By Chris Oddo | Monday May 14, 2018
Roberta Vinci ended her playing career in the same manner that she conducted it--with a whole lot of panache--at the Foro Italico on Monday.
Photo Source: Julian Finney/Getty
Roberta Vinci played her last match on Monday at the Foro Italico, falling to Serbia’s Aleksandra Krunic and ending a 20-year professional career with the same style, gusto, humor and infectious smile that she played with. The 35-year-old former World No.7 might be best known for her improbable upset of Serena Williams at the 2015 U.S. Open. It was then that she ended Williams’ quest for tennis’ Calendar Slam two steps from achievement and soared into infamy by giving the most charming, hilarious post-match speech to ESPN’s Tom Rinaldi.
Biggest Upset Ever? When Vinci Stunned Serena in New York
She would lose the final to compatriot Flavia Pennetta and win more adoring fans in the process.
But that incredible moment wasn’t an outlier in Vinci’s career. She always had that talent, she always had that charm, and she always had that smile—she just needed that massive of a stage to reach the general public and uninitiated.
During her sterling career, Vinci was so much more than a one-Slam wonder. She played a major part in one of the greatest International women’s tennis teams of all-time, winning four Fed Cups with Italy over an eight-year span, claimed five Grand Slam doubles titles, held the No.1 doubles ranking and won 25 double titles.
On Monday, Vinci was defeated by a sheepish Krunic (she didn’t want to be the one to spoil the moment, admirably) on Court Pietrangeli, 2-6, 6-0, 6-3, but the real spectacle wasn’t so much the match as it was the enthusiasm and affection that the Italian fans showed for Vinci during and after the match.
It was a beautiful scene the encompassed the gravity of what Vinci and the other female greats of her era such as Pennetta, Francesca Schiavone and Sara Errani have meant to Italian tennis.
"I am crying, but I am happy that this day has come,” Vinci told the crowd in Italian after the match. “I am proud of all I have done and the difficult moments I had to overtake in these years and though I lost, I am proud of being here today. Thank you all"
Then she added, in her custom sardonic tone: "”Thanks public, but I am so happy I am done! From tomorrow I am on holiday!"
Enjoy the scenes from a special day at the Foro Italico below: