US OPEN

Women’s Semifinal: [CR1] Serena Williams (USA) vs. [CR43] Roberta Vinci (ITA)

To say I was shocked is putting it mildly.  My good friend sent me a text, and he used one word, “DEVASTATED”.  Everyone is stunned, including Serena Williams.  It’s almost surreal these last couple of hours. I keep trying to change the outcome. Although I am happy for Vinci, I, along with so many others, believed that Williams would at least make it to the final, if not win the title. Yet, as it has been said time and time again, matches are not played on paper.  Williams had to go out there and win it, just like Vinci had to go out and win it. Despite never losing a set to Vinci in their previous four matches, I knew that today’s encounter was taking place under completely different circumstances.  Williams was not just battling Vinci, she was battling against the incredible pressure of her desire to win the Grand Slam, and the expectations of the world.

The pressure has been building, and the closer it got to the finish line, the more vulnerable Williams was. It was not a big serving opponent that did her in, but the cunning of Vinci.  She knew how to adjust her game according to the conditions and her crafty skills from doubles came to her advantage. Vinci also played with pressure; however, nothing compared to the magnitude of pressure that Williams was trying to overcome.  Thus, despite losing the first set, she knew there would be opportunities to get back in the match because Williams was unsteady and could be easily rattled. I am happy for Vinci, it was a phenomenal conquest.  However, I am extremely sad for Williams because her performance today by no means reflected her ability and it’s a shame that she was unable to control the nerves long enough to win the match after winning the first set. Vinci defeated Williams 2-6, 6-4, 6-4 and scored the biggest upset ever to make her first final at a Major.  Well done!