One of the biggest upsets in sports happened on Friday, and it happened at an event where upsets don't normally populate the sport: women's tennis.
The top-ranked player in the world -- maybe the best women's player ever -- Serena Williams, was undone in three sets by an Italian named Roberta Vinci in the US Open semifinals. In the hours since her win, Vinci's quickly becoming something of a cult hero -- even in spite of knocking off Williams' quest to win a calendar Grand Slam, something that hasn't happened in women's tennis since 1988.
Below, you'll see why.
For perspective on the achievement: Vinci had three match wins total in her previous 11 Grand Slam events, not including this year's US Open. She was a 300-to-1 underdog at the start of the event to win it. Now she'll play on Saturday against fellow Italian Flavia Pennetta.
Things started off well enough for Williams, who won the first set 6-2. Then Vinci turned the tables with a 6-4 second set. The third set began with a 2-0 Williams lead ... then Vinci roared back. It got silly when this was Vinci's pose for about 15 seconds, as she led the third set.
same pic.twitter.com/AGE9U211rK
— Erik Malinowski (@erikmal) September 11, 2015
And then, as Williams began to blunder her way out of Saturday's fine, the Drake schadenfreude came heavy. Drake: professional rapper, suitor of Serena, undeniable sports hex.
Drake, scowl-clapping master pic.twitter.com/ebWmaiYld2
— Cork Gaines (@CorkGaines) September 11, 2015
drake’s mentions gonna look like chernobyl if this doesn’t turn around.
— El Flaco (@bomani_jones) September 11, 2015
Yep. Vinci wins, and everyone blames Drake.
Serena should've asked Calipari about hanging around Drake.
— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) September 11, 2015
The Curse of Drake strikes again: pic.twitter.com/0Q1qQOjubi
— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) September 11, 2015
When you're thinking about that Drake & Future mixtape and you lose your tennis match pic.twitter.com/Jm5ViPnQJG
— HipHopHotspot (@HipHopxHotspot) September 11, 2015
.@Drake Kentucky in the Final Four, Raptors in the playoffs, Serena going for the Slam. Doing well, fella. Doing well.
— SportsPickle (@sportspickle) September 11, 2015
Well when Serena breaks it off with Drake I'm here for you boo. My season is already in the crapper so no one will blame you.
— Lolo Jones (@lolojones) September 11, 2015
The strange thing was, in the immediate aftermath of such a huge loss, people were trying to put it into context. Both from a human perspective and a sports one.
The lesson: no matter who you are, you may be just one ebullient Italian lady away from disaster
— Bruce Arthur (@bruce_arthur) September 11, 2015
Chaminade. USA 1980. Buster Douglas.
— Tim Layden (@SITimLayden) September 11, 2015
Vinci: THE GAWDESS. She goes from post-game finger-wagging to hilarious humility in the post-game interview, one of the best I've ever seen. You've gotta see these.
The only thing I know about Roberta Vinci is that I love her. This is the greatest interview ever.
— Scott Van Pelt (@notthefakeSVP) September 11, 2015
Once again, Serena Williams was -2350 vs Roberta Vinci on 5Dimes this morning.
— Jimmy Traina (@JimmyTraina) September 11, 2015
I can only imagine what the people who bought tickets for the women's final are feeling right now. Thousands of $$ to see Vinci-Pannetta
— Dan Wolken (@DanWolken) September 11, 2015
An incredible turn of events in Flushing, NY on Friday. The best quality about sports is that we can never predict what will happen, and when the unexpected comes about, the upshot to the outcome -- especially in the modern digital age -- is a grasping and fun thing to watch unfold.
