Now Roberta Vinci stands in Serena Williams' way
NEW YORK -- How in the world can Italy's Roberta Vinci beat Serena Williams in the semifinals of the U.S. Open on Thursday?
"Serena is Serena," Vinci said Tuesday. "You have to play better, then better, then better."
And for Vinci, that might mean better than her best.
It's safe to say the first-time Grand Slam semifinalist at age 32 is the underdog against world No. 1 Williams, a 21-time major champion who is two wins away from the Grand Slam — winning all four majors in one season.
"If I was Roberta, I would focus on getting to the net as often as possible," said Barbara Schett, a former top 10 player who is a commentator for Eurosport. "The only good thing for her is that she has absolutely nothing to lose. Roberta can just go out there and hopefully enjoy the moment."
Vinci, ranked No. 43 in singles, has been on the big stage plenty — in doubles. She has won 25 career doubles titles, including five majors. Her game is crafty and based on a variety of spins: She hits one of the few one-handed backhands in the women's game and relies on the spin from that wing, along with her consistency, net play and foot speed.
On a fast hardcourt in Queens, however, that is the kind of game that Williams can gobble up. The 33-year-old American is 4-0 vs. Vinci, including a 6-4, 6-3 win in Toronto on Aug. 14.
"She played me really tough, and I didn't really expect that," Williams said of that match. "I'm not going to underestimate her. ... She's not in the semifinals of a Grand Slam for no reason. She knows what to do and she knows what to play."
In Williams' pursuit of the Grand Slam, plenty of energy was expended Tuesday when she beat older sister Venus in a three-set quarterfinal that was one of the most-watched tennis matches of all time.
Could that play on her negatively Thursday?
"I think she has a chance," Flavia Pennetta said of Vinci. Pennetta, also from Italy, reached the semifinals Wednesday. "I mean, she has to go on the court and try her best. She (has) nothing to lose. She has in front of her Serena Williams. You just have to go on-court and try everything."
Pennetta tried everything in an upset win against two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova, putting the No. 26 seed into her second U.S. Open semifinal in three years. She'll face No. 2 seed Simona Halep, a winner against Victoria Azarenka, the former world No. 1.
For Schett, it's more up to Williams in regard to how this match will play out than it is to Vinci. Williams is 25-3 in major semifinals.
"I think Serena will come out and be a little bit nervous, but Vinci from my point of view doesn't have the weapons to put her in danger," said Schett, who was 0-3 head-to-head vs. Williams. "It's going to be very difficult. ... It's all about Serena."
The finish line for the most talked-about story line in sports is near for Williams , who could become the first tennis player (male or female) to win the calendar-year Grand Slam since Steffi Graf in 1988.
The pressure is no doubt building.
What will await her in the final should she make it is one of two very different opponents: Halep or Pennetta.
Williams is a combined 13-1 against them, her lone loss coming in the WTA Finals last October to Halep.
Williams, in a news conference after beating Venus on Tuesday, showed a first crack of stress off of the court during this U.S. Open.
"I don't want to answer any of these questions and you keep asking me the same (ones)," she told reporters, breaking into a mischievous smile.