Roberta Vinci came, she saw, she conquered Serena Williams at the US Open. The longest of long shots, the unseeded Vinci sailed into the Flushing Meadows finals after dispatching heavy favorite Serena Williams 2-6, 6-4, 6-4. Vinci was relentless after Williams looked as if she would coast to the finals, winning the first set easily.
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But as one of the few women on tour to hit a one-handed backhand, Vinci chipped away with a slice from that side that Williams could never master. And Vinci, a five-time Grand Slam champion in doubles, displayed her own mastery: an enormously graceful touch at the net throughout the match with brilliant half-volleys and volleys expertly set up by moving Williams from side to side with confident, efficient groundstrokes. Vinci will play fellow Italian Flavia Pennetta in the finals.
