© Ben Curtis/Associated Press, File Serena Williams wrapped up a 2016 in which she won only one Grand Slam but continued to find her voice on the issues of the day.
The year will not end in the way in which Serena Williams might have hoped.
She reached three Grand Slam finals, but won only one in the follow-up to a year of such dominance and grace that she was named the Sports Illustrated Sportsperson of the Year. Along the way, she lost her No. 1 world ranking after 157 weeks, but she made
Serena Williams’ pursuit of the calendar-year Grand Slam is over, as the 21-time major champion was defeated by unseeded Italian Roberta Vinci 2-6, 6-4, 6-4 in the US Open semifinals Friday.
Williams was attempting to become the first woman to win all four majors in a season since Steffi Graf in 1988. Williams also could have tied Graf for the second-most Grand Slam singles titles behind Margaret Court’s 24.
Vinci will face countrywoman Flavia Pennetta, who defeated No. 2 seed Simona Halep ea
Serena Williams won her match against her sister Venus Williams in three sets Tuesday at the U.S. Open to advance to the semifinals. (Al Bello/Getty Images)
With a powerful ace, Serena Williams capped her biggest win of the tournament.
She’ll have to win two more matches in order to complete the calendar Grand Slam and tie Steffi Graf with 22 Grand Slam titles, but the atmosphere inside Arthur Ashe Stadium Tuesday night felt like a U.S. Open final.
Playing in front of a sell-out crowd, Sere
Serena Williams extended her mastery over big sister Venus, and kept alive her bid for Grand Slam history.
In the 26th career meeting between the siblings, Serena dominated with her steady serve and big hitting from the back of the court to win 6-4, 6-3 on Centre Court in 1 hour, 8 minutes, extending her Grand Slam winning streak to 25 matches.
The win sent the top-ranked Serena into the Wimbledon quarterfinals as she bids for a fourth straight Grand Slam title, a feat last accomplished by
