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Did this really happen? Yes, it did. Serena Williams, for the first time this year, left a grand slam match as the loser. Roberta Vinci pulled off the feat at the U.S. Open. Clive Brunskill/Getty Images North America/Getty Images
Williams' forehands and other parts of her game deserted her, especially in the third set. She lost 2-6 6-4 6-4 and so there will be no calendar year grand slam. Clive Brunskill/Getty Images North America/Getty Images
Williams, as she has done this year when in trouble, willed herself on with shouts of, "come on." But in Friday's semifinal ... Alex Goodlett/Getty Images North America/Getty Images
She was matched by Vinci, who was unseeded and ranked 43rd. The Italian had lost all four of her previous matches against Williams and didn't claim a set. Matthew Stockman/Getty Images North America/Getty Images
Vinci was delighted to win and charmed the crowd with her post-match interview. But she also spared a thought for Williams, who was the crowd favorite playing at home in the U.S. Maddie Meyer/Getty Images North America/Getty Images
Williams made a quick exit and was also brief in her press conference. She said all the pressure of trying to win four majors in one season -- something not accomplished since 1988 -- didn't affect her. Mike Stobe/Getty Images North America
For the first time, there will be an all-Italian grand slam final because Flavia Pennetta beat No. 2 Simona Halep in another upset, 6-3 6-1. Matthew Stockman/Getty Images North America/Getty Images
Pennetta served well from the middle of the first set onward and at one stage in the second set claimed 15 straight points. Al Bello/Getty Images North America/Getty Images
But there was disappointment for Halep, who said she succumbed to nerves. It wasn't the first time it happened at a grand slam. Clive Brunskill/Getty Images North America/Getty Images
