US Open – In sports, there is no such thing as a foregone conclusion. One opponent can decisively be the clear favourite but the match is always decided on the field of play. In tennis in particular, no lead is safe no matter what the head-to-head is on paper or the scoreline. Coming into a match with an incredibly long win streaks does not change the fact that the match still has to be played and the winner must first get to match point and convert. Prior to the US Open, Serena Williams (1) was 21-0 at majors this year whereas as her opponent was 1-3. In their previous four encounters, Vinci had never taken a set off Serena nor even had a set point to convert. However, unseeded Roberta Vinci faced this encounter like a brand new day. She took it, head on. This unheralded journeywoman from Italy would forever be remembered as the woman who unended Serena’s quest for “greatest” when she upset the American 2-6 6-4 6-4 for a place in her first ever major final.
The beginning of the match was rather tepid as neither player seemed to be willing to take control of the match. Vinci took advantage of some loose shots from Serena to break for a 2-1 lead. However, she would not be allowed to extend this lead as Serena came back roaring to win the next 5 games to take the set 6-2 in just 31 minutes. At this point, one expected that Serena was going to run away with the match and be done with the match in just over an hour. Vinci had other ideas, Serena began playing sloppy service games. She would go down 0-40 a couple of times on her serve. On the second such occasion, Vinci broke for 3-2 and maintained this lead to serve out the set at 6-4.
The match was leveled at a set apiece. However, there was no real sense of panic in the crowd for Serena all throughout this year at majors have dealt well with these type of situations. She has had to play 2 3-setters this tournament already and so a third was not surprising. She got out to a 2-0 lead and the crowd was ecstatic for this surely would be Serena’s march to the win. The crowd was missing the fact that Vinci began to tighten up her game and stay longer in the points. Serena was no longer dictating from the baseline nor dominating at the net. Things were about to get interesting.
Vinci broke Serena to get back on serve 1-2. Serena’s attempt to break back went incomplete as Vinci held serve for 2-2. That Serena Surge that one expected came in short bursts and never gained the required momentum to give Serena the upper hand in this crucial stage of the match. At 3-3, Serena serving for 4-3, she again played loose points and allowed Vinci into the game. Vinci capitalized on another rare break point and converted for 4-3. It was now do or die for Serena and she died. She was unable to break back despite having double break points and Vinci went up 5-3. Serena was able to hold serve for 4-5 and forced Vinci to serve it out. Vinci was up for the challenge and was able to serve it out at love. Roberta Vinci is now a major finalist as she took out Serena Williams 2-6 6-4 6-4 in exactly 2 hours.
After the match, Serena had this to say about losing this battle, “I think she played literally out of her mind … [S]he just played really well. She did not want to lose today.” Vinci will face her countrywoman Flavia Pennetta for the title. Pennetta herself is making her major final debut. She took out the Simona Halep (2) in a straight sets thrashing 6-1 6-3 in just 59 minutes.
