53 Brentwood Blog

Friday, September 11, 2015

300-1

There is not a sentient being in this city or any other who would have predicted that two Italians in their early thirties would contest the US Open women’s singles final on Saturday and that Serena Williams, perhaps the finest player in the history of the women’s game, would be denied a shot at the first calendar grand slam in 27 years.

But that is what transpired here on Friday afternoon when Roberta Vinci, a 32-year-old doubles specialist ranked 43 in the world and rated a 300-1 chance by bookmakers, beat the defending champion and world No1 2-6, 6-4, 6-4 in exactly two hours of an extraordinary match.

Kevin Mitchell, The Guardian.