Roberta Vinci just pulled off one of the best biggest upsets in tennis history. The unseeded player beat 21-time major champion Serena Williams 2-56, 6-4, 6-4 in the U.S. Open Semifinals on Friday, foiling Williams’ chances to achieve a calendar-year Grand Slam.
“Sorry guys,” Vinci said to the crowd.
Causal fans won’t recognize Vinci, a 32-year-old from Taranto Italy, who was ranked No. 43 in the world in September. She has a career record of 512-353. (For comparison: Williams’ current record is 737-122.) Up until this game, Williams had never even lost a set to Vinci.
That’s not to say that Vinci isn’t a formidable opponent. She has especially shone playing doubles. She has won 25 career doubles titles, including five majors. She’s also one of the few women who has a one-handed backhand.
Vinci is as surprised as any of us: she said in interviews that she didn’t expect to make it to the semi-finals at all. She certainly won new fans with her charming interview with Tom Rinaldi after the match, in which she called her win the “best moment of my life.”
Vinci has said she’s at the end of her career. She has never played in an Open final before, but she will get her chance on Saturday against fellow Italian Flavia Pennetta, who upset No. 2 Simona Halep earlier in the day.
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Serena Williams of the United States returns a shot to Roberta Vinci of Italy during their Women's Singles Semifinals match on Day Twelve of the 2015 US Open on Sept. 11, 2015.Clive Brunskill—Getty ImagesTomas Berdych of the Czech Republic returns a shot against Richard Gasquet of France during their Men's Singles Fourth Round match on Day Eight of the 2015 US Open on Sept. 7, 2015.Anadolu Agency/Getty ImagesRoger Federer of Switzerland returns a shot to Philipp Kohlschreiber of Germany during their Men's Singles Third Round match on Day Six of the 2015 US Open on Sept. 5, 2015 .Elsa—Getty ImagesAndrea Petkovic of Germany returns a shot to Johanna Konta of Great Britain during their Women's Singles Third Round match on Day Six of the 2015 US Open on Sept. 5, 2015.Clive Brunskill—Getty ImagesSimona Halep during her 2nd round women's singles match against Kateryna Bondarenko on Sept. 3, 2015,Jon Buckle—Empics SportCamila Giorgi, of Italy, returns a shot to Sabine Lisicki, of Germany, during the second round of the U.S. Open in New York on Sept. 3, 2015,Adam Hunger—APTomas Berdych, of the Czech Republic, reacts after defeating Jurgen Melzer, of Austria, in the second round of the U.S. Open on Sept. 3, 2015.Kathy Willens—APNicole Gibbs, of the United States, prepares to serve to Petra Kvitova, of the Czech Republic, during the second round of the U.S. Open tennis tournament on Sept. 3, 2015.Adam Hunger—APSerena Williams of USA competes on Day 1 of the 2015 US Open in New York on Aug. 31, 2015.Jean Catuffe—GC ImagesAlexander Zverev of Germany returns a shot against Philipp Kohlschreiber of Germany during their Men's Singles First Round match on Sept. 1, 2015.Alex Goodlett—Getty ImagesRafael Nadal of Spain reacts after defeating Diego Schwartzman of Argentina during their Men's Singles Second Round match on Sept. 2, 2015.Clive Brunskill—Getty ImagesVenus Williams of the USA celebrates her match win over Irina Falconi of the USA on Sept. 2, 2015.Elsa—Getty ImagesSabine Lisicki of Germany returns a shot against Camila Giorgi of Italy during their Women's Singles Second Round match on Sept. 3, 2015 .Al Bello—Getty ImagesRoger Federer of Switzerland hits a return to Steve Darcis of Belgium during the men's singles round two match on Sept. 3, 2015.Don Emmert—AFP/Getty ImagesCaroline Wozniacki of Denmark reacts against Petra Cetkovska of the Czech Republic during their Women's Singles Second Round match on Sept. 3, 2015.Al Bello—Getty Images
