Novak in NYC: '21 Slam, 21 Majors?

Six years ago, no one thought Serena Williams would be defeated at the US Open. But along came Roberta Vinci, and down went a calendar-year Slam

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Novak in NYC: '21 Slam, 21 Majors?

By the time Novak Djokovic lost the biggest match of his career, he'd already won over the biggest audience of his life

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Novak in NYC: '21 Slam, 21 Majors?

To beat Novak Djokovic, Alexander Zverev said, you need to be perfect. He was right—and one mistake cost him

By Steve Tignor Sep 11, 2021
Novak in NYC: '21 Slam, 21 Majors?

Jenson Brooksby and Novak Djokovic gave us a bit of everything. But it was one shot that changed the momentum in the Serb's favor

By Steve Tignor Sep 07, 2021
Novak in NYC: '21 Slam, 21 Majors?

Novak Djokovic is searching for a Grand Slam, and a little love, at the US Open

By Peter Bodo Sep 05, 2021
Novak in NYC: '21 Slam, 21 Majors?

Griekspoor, heckler no match for Novak Djokovic, now five wins away from completing calendar-year Slam at US Open

By Joel Drucker Sep 03, 2021
Novak in NYC: '21 Slam, 21 Majors?

Holger Rune has his moment, but Novak Djokovic wins in four sets, leaving him six wins away from tennis history

By Steve Tignor Sep 01, 2021
Novak in NYC: '21 Slam, 21 Majors?

A timeline of Novak Djokovic's path to ultimate greatness

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Novak in NYC: '21 Slam, 21 Majors?

Like a fine gluten-free wine, Novak Djokovic seems to only get better with age

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Novak in NYC: '21 Slam, 21 Majors?

Meet Don Budge, Novak Djokovic’s (calendar-year?) Grand Slam ancestor

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WATCH: Novak Djokovic's quest for the calendar-year Grand Slam

A few minutes after Roberta Vinci pulled off the biggest upset of 2015—and, according to some, the biggest upset of any year—she was asked if she had believed, when she woke up that morning, whether she had any chance of winning. Vinci didn’t hesitate with her answer.

“No!” the Italian cried as she wiggled her head back and forth.

How about after she had pushed Serena to a third set?

“Never,” Vinci said with a laugh.

What about when she broke Serena at 3-3 in the third and served for the match at 5-4?

“When I serve,” said Vinci, pretending to shake all over, “I think, ‘It’s impossible.’”

The night before, the world No. 43 had even gone so far as to call her travel agent and say, “‘OK, book me a flight, because, you know...”

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Vinci had guts and guile—and it was enough to stun Serena and send shockwaves through the sports world.

Vinci had guts and guile—and it was enough to stun Serena and send shockwaves through the sports world.

So how did, at age 32 and playing in her first Grand Slam semifinal, this 132-pound woman win a match in which she was a 300-1 underdog? How did she beat an opponent who was 26-0 at major tournaments that year, and just two matches from completing the first calendar-year Grand Slam since Steffi Graf’s in 1988? How did this unsung player produce a win, as well as a post-match interview, that no one will ever forget?

Vinci played well, of course. “The best match of my life,” she called it. When it was over, she pointed upward and said, “I can maybe touch the sky with my finger.”

More important was the fact that Vinci played her game, one that was learned way back in the 20th century, when net-rushers with one-handers still roamed the land.

“She has that mean slice backhand,” Serena had said beforehand. Vinci kept mixing that soft slice with her hard flat forehand, and it was enough to keep Serena from swinging freely.

If there was a shot that typified Serena’s day, it came when she reached break point at 3-4 in the second set, and had a look at a wide-open forehand pass on the run. All year, Serena had faced turning points like that; all year she had made them turn her way.

This one turned against her: After getting her feet tangled up as she ran toward the net, Serena shanked the ball wide, and Vinci held. After winning 26 straight matches at the Slams, she fell two games short in the 27th. Two games short, but not two points—Serena actually won 93 points in this match to Vinci’s 85.

“I did win three Grand Slams this year,” Serena said afterward, in a somber attempt to put the loss in perspective.

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The night before, the world No. 43 had even gone so far as to call her travel agent and say, “‘OK, book me a flight, because, you know...”

The reason Vinci did what no other woman could in 2015 wasn’t because she sliced her backhand or flattened out her forehand. She won because she had the guts and the game to close it out. Serving at 5-4, shaking like a leaf and still believing it was “impossible,” Vinci carved under a gorgeous slice approach and followed it with a half-volley winner. On match point, she moved Serena across the baseline and seemed to have the rally won with a forehand. But Serena being Serena, she stretched herself out and forced Vinci to make one more ball. Vinci did.

When the impossible had finally happened, Vinci was asked for her reaction.

She dragged her finger across her forehand and let out a long “Whhhhheeeeeewwwww” of relief.

When it came to beating Serena in 2015, only seeing was believing.