Tennis Channel and USA Today elected the incredible US Open semifinal match between Roberta Vinci and Serena Williams as the best match of the year. The Italian player upset Williams in three sets after losing the first set dashing the US star’s dream to complete the Calender Grand Slam and tie Steffi Graf’s feat of winning the four Grand Slam Tournaments in the same year achieved in 1988.
When Williams won the first set with 6-2, she was looking to cruise to the US Final just one match away from clinching the Grand Slam, but Vinci played the match of her life winning the second and the third sets to set up an historic all-Italian match against her close friend Flavia Pennetta. Vinci fell behind 0-2 in the third set but fought back to win the decider wit 6-4
“It’s an amazing moment. It’s incredible. It’s the best moment of my life. I lost the first set and tried to stay in every point and not to think about Serena”, said Vinci in the post-match interview.
During a press conference at the ITPL Williams spoke about her decision to end her season after the defeat against Vinci.
“I never lacked motivation. I was just really injured and I have always been motivated, so I just had to get better. I just had to be able to just walk without being in pain and I just needed some time off”, said Serena Williams
