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 The tremors started early at Arthur Ashe Stadium with Flavia
Pennetta crushing second seed Simona Halep 6-1 6-3, before Roberta
Vinci rocked Flushing Meadows delivering one of the biggest upsets
in tennis history with her semi-final win over Williams that
punctured the American's calendar Grand Slam dream.
Two victories from becoming the fourth woman to win all four majors
in one year, a brittle-looking Williams crumbled as unseeded Vinci,
playing in her first grand slam singles semi-final, battled to an
improbable 2-6 6-4 6-4 win.
The results set the stage for an equally improbable all-Italian
final on Saturday.
"I don't want to talk about how disappointing it is for me," a
grim-faced Williams told reporters. "I told you guys I don't feel
pressure. I never felt pressure.
"I never felt that pressure to win here. I said that from the
beginning."
With the National Tennis Center buzzing over the exit of Williams,
world number one Djokovic and second seed Federer restored order to
the year's final grand slam.
Djokovic needed just 85 minutes to secure passage to his fourth
consecutive grand slam final, crushing defending U.S. Open champion
Marin Cilic 6-0 6-1 6-2.
The demolition was the worst ever in a U.S. Open semi-final, the
three games lost one fewer than the four Yevgeny Kafelnikov managed
against Lleyton Hewitt in 2001.
Federer, a five-times U.S. Open winner, was equally efficient as he
beat Swiss compatriot Stan Wawrinka 6-4 6-3 6-1.
The all-time grand slam singles king with 17 titles, Federer heads
into Sunday's final gunning to add to his record haul. He has not
won a grand since 2012 Wimbledon.
The final will mark the 42nd meeting between the two great rivals,
with Federer holding a wafer 21-20 advantage.
"Novak it's been more straightforward, my opinion," said Federer.
"That's what I like about the rivalry.
"I think it's just a straight shootout and I think that's the cool
thing about our rivalry. It's very athletic.
"We both can handle ... whatever we present to one another, and I
think our matches, it's very even."
VINCI 300-1 SHOT
Vinci, a 300-1 shot to win the U.S. Open when the tournament began,
pulled off one of the most remarkable ever tennis upsets by ending
Williams' streak of 33 consecutive match wins in the grand slams.
A five-times doubles grand slam winner, the 32-year-old Vinci had
never been beyond the quarter-finals in singles play at 43 majors.
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In the other corner stood Williams, a 21-times grand slam champion
who had lost only two matches all season and had not dropped a set
against Vinci in their four previous meetings.
Forced to wait a day after rain wiped out Thursday's semi-finals
schedule, the weight of expectation appeared to take its toll on a
33-year-old who was chasing the first calendar Grand Slam since
Steffi Graf in 1988.
Everything was going according to script as Williams easily took the
opening set but things began to unravel after a composed Vinci
registered a key break in the fifth game of the second that allowed
her to even the match.
With the contest slipping away, Williams tried to will herself back
into the match, screaming and fist-pumping after each point and
feeding off the support of the crowd.
But with nothing lose, an undaunted Vinci continued to pressure
Williams, who could not match previous great escapes.
While a stunned Vinci celebrated, a scowling Williams quickly
departed a stunned stadium.
"This is an incredible moment for me," Vinci said. "It's amazing.
It's like a dream. I'm in the final. I beat Serena."
Lost in the drama of the Williams match was a brilliant performance
by Pennetta, who needed less than an hour to deal with Romanian
Halep.
Pennetta, was a clear underdog but the 26th seed tapped into her
vast experience and was not overwhelmed on the big stage.
She had reached the quarter-finals at Flushing Meadows in six of the
previous seven years, but the final will be uncharted territory.
(Editing by John O'Brien/Andrew Both)
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