To Roberta Vinci and Angelique Kerber add the name of Garbine Muguruza to the list of those denying Serena Williams another grand slam title.
The world No 4 defeated the 34-year-old American 7-5, 6-4 in a high-quality French Open final to make it a hat-trick of near misses for probably the greatest woman to have played the game.
Williams is marooned on 21 grand slams, one short of Steffi Graf, after the exertions of the past week and an inspired opponent caught up with her.
Muguruza saw off the challenge of Williams 7-5, 6-4 at Roland Garros
The Spaniard produced a terrific performance in Paris
The 22-year-old puts her hands to her face in joy in the immediate moments after clinching victory
The statuesque Spaniard, born in Venezuela before moving to Europe aged six, showed admirable composure in seeing off a determined effort from Williams, who now has only the Wimbledon trophy in her possession.
And unlike Kerber, you suspect, this could be the first of numerous Grand Slams for the 22 year-old. She won the match with some ferocious hitting, despite serving nine double faults, and will be a very serious threat at Wimbledon again.
Having missed four championship points at 5-3 against the Williams serve she nervelessly served it out and clinched the match when the American let a ball she thought was going out land on the baseline.
It is the first time that Williams has lost two slam titles in a row, having been beaten by Vinci in the New York semi-finals.
Muguruza avenged her defeat to Williams in last year's Wimbledon final by beating her American opponent
Muguruza continued her fine form in the second set, breaking early and holding her serve tMuguruza continued her fine form in the second set, breaking early and holding her serve to win 6-4
Actress Hilary Swank was among the spectators watching the final on a chilly day at Roland Garros
But she had come out showing no signs of the stomach strain that may have inhibited her in the semi-finals, and hit hard from the start.
However, Muguruza was able to fight fire with fire, and her composure under pressure was impressive, as if she had learned from the experience of the Wimbledon finale last year.
She had to battle hard to save two break points in the third game and then broke herself to go 3-2 up when Williams double faulted.
But the American then rallied from 2-4 to take the next three games, her experience apparently starting to tell. The sun even made the most brief and welcome appearance, the first time it had been seen for a week.
Yet the pattern of the set repeated itself with the Spaniard then reeling off games, breaking for 6-5 with a cross court forehand, although it was her huge forehand down the line that had been causing most damage, with Williams simply unable to cover the corners.
Williams shows the expressions of a difficult afternoon on her part on a gloomy afternoon in Paris
Both players show extreme focus as they change ends between games during the second set of the match
Williams contemplates a missed chance
The twelfth game was huge as Muguruza save two break points, one with an ace, and then finally claimed her third set point with a backhand fired deep into the corner.
That would mean a further dip into the American’s reserves of energy after four days of continuous play, and Muguruza broke to go 3-1 up.
Williams kept the pressure on but, at 4-3, the 22-year-old served two aces to put herself within a game of the match.
There were some fractional misses at the first time of asking but she made no mistake at 5-4.
The world No 4 clenches her fist during her impressive display against the American great on Saturday
The two players embrace in the middle of Court Philippe Chatrier at the end of the game in Paris.
The world No 4 defeated the 34-year-old American 7-5, 6-4 in a high-quality French Open final to make it a hat-trick of near misses for probably the greatest woman to have played the game.
Williams is marooned on 21 grand slams, one short of Steffi Graf, after the exertions of the past week and an inspired opponent caught up with her.
Muguruza saw off the challenge of Williams 7-5, 6-4 at Roland Garros
The Spaniard produced a terrific performance in Paris
The 22-year-old puts her hands to her face in joy in the immediate moments after clinching victory
The statuesque Spaniard, born in Venezuela before moving to Europe aged six, showed admirable composure in seeing off a determined effort from Williams, who now has only the Wimbledon trophy in her possession.
And unlike Kerber, you suspect, this could be the first of numerous Grand Slams for the 22 year-old. She won the match with some ferocious hitting, despite serving nine double faults, and will be a very serious threat at Wimbledon again.
Having missed four championship points at 5-3 against the Williams serve she nervelessly served it out and clinched the match when the American let a ball she thought was going out land on the baseline.
It is the first time that Williams has lost two slam titles in a row, having been beaten by Vinci in the New York semi-finals.
Muguruza avenged her defeat to Williams in last year's Wimbledon final by beating her American opponent
Muguruza continued her fine form in the second set, breaking early and holding her serve tMuguruza continued her fine form in the second set, breaking early and holding her serve to win 6-4
Actress Hilary Swank was among the spectators watching the final on a chilly day at Roland Garros
But she had come out showing no signs of the stomach strain that may have inhibited her in the semi-finals, and hit hard from the start.
However, Muguruza was able to fight fire with fire, and her composure under pressure was impressive, as if she had learned from the experience of the Wimbledon finale last year.
She had to battle hard to save two break points in the third game and then broke herself to go 3-2 up when Williams double faulted.
But the American then rallied from 2-4 to take the next three games, her experience apparently starting to tell. The sun even made the most brief and welcome appearance, the first time it had been seen for a week.
Yet the pattern of the set repeated itself with the Spaniard then reeling off games, breaking for 6-5 with a cross court forehand, although it was her huge forehand down the line that had been causing most damage, with Williams simply unable to cover the corners.
Williams shows the expressions of a difficult afternoon on her part on a gloomy afternoon in Paris
Both players show extreme focus as they change ends between games during the second set of the match
Williams contemplates a missed chance
The twelfth game was huge as Muguruza save two break points, one with an ace, and then finally claimed her third set point with a backhand fired deep into the corner.
That would mean a further dip into the American’s reserves of energy after four days of continuous play, and Muguruza broke to go 3-1 up.
Williams kept the pressure on but, at 4-3, the 22-year-old served two aces to put herself within a game of the match.
There were some fractional misses at the first time of asking but she made no mistake at 5-4.
The world No 4 clenches her fist during her impressive display against the American great on Saturday
The two players embrace in the middle of Court Philippe Chatrier at the end of the game in Paris.
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