Unseeded Roberta Vinci in shock after beating Serena Williams at US Open
Saturday 12 September 2015 21:12, UK
Roberta Vinci was so certain she would lose to Serena Williams in the US Open semi-final that she had already booked her flight home.
The unseeded Italian produced one of the greatest shocks in tennis history when she came from a set down to beat the world No 1 by 2-6 6-4 6-4 at Flushing Meadows - ending Williams' hopes of a calendar Grand Slam.
After the match, Vinci admitted she had arranged her flight home before she even took to the court against the reigning champion.
"I can maybe touch the sky with my finger," she said. "Maybe if yesterday you had told me, 'Okay, tomorrow you can win against Serena', I say, 'Come on'.
"Yesterday, I called my travel agency to say, 'Okay, book me a flight, because you know...', and now I have my final tomorrow. It's incredible.
"I played second today and I didn't want to have to leave quick. So okay, I lose today against Serena and tomorrow I will go home.
"What time was my flight? 10pm in the night. So maybe I can [still make it]. Maybe I can, eh?"
Vinci's dramatic victory set up an all-Italian final for the first time in the Open era, with the world No 43 facing compatriot Flavia Pennetta for the title.
Pennetta will start the final as favourite after the world No 26 beat Simona Halep in straight sets, with Vinci having lost their two previous meetings.
"I think [there is] a lot of pressure but we [have] known each other for a long time. I played against her three or four years ago and I lost on the centre court.
"I remember that I was completely scared, like a little bit blocked. I didn't play.
"So I hope that tomorrow I will enjoy and play my game, and not be so stressed or tight because it's a final. It's normal. Come on. Enjoy. That's it."
