Page 17 - Aruba Today

SPORTS A17
Tuesday 29 December 2015

Served

Serena’s Open Loss Tops a Year of Stunning Upsets

In this June 4, 2015 photo, Serena Williams returns a shot at the French Open at the Roland Garros stadium in Paris. Williams’ loss at the U.S. Open, ending her chance
at a Grand Slam in 2015, will surely go down as one of the biggest upsets in any sport, which was the only way to stand apart in 2015.

(AP Photo/Francois Mori)

PAUL NEWBERRY “Every so often,” Vinci said, other year: become the first undefeat- the 17th and slipped out of
AP National Writer “a miracle happens.” ed men’s hoops team in a playoff by a single shot,
Serena Williams had done For Williams, it was a night- DOWN GOES ROUSEY! Ron- nearly four decades. Turns denied in his bid for the first
all the heavy lifting, or so it mare. After cruising through da Rousey was supposed out, the Wildcats weren’t modern Grand Slam. “We
seemed. the first set 6-2, she finally to be invincible. She won perfect after all. gave it a great effort,” Spi-
She conquered the grass seemed to feel the weight her first 12 mixed martial Hard-nosed Wisconsin took eth said.
of Wimbledon, the red clay of history. Her legs got arts fights — eight of them down John Calipari’s squad
of Roland Garros, the hard sluggish, her shots spray- in less than a minute — 71-64 at the Final Four. “The FATHER AND SON: We’ll
courts of the Australian ing all over the court. Vinci before stepping into the season was a waste,” Ken- all remember Kentucky’s
Open. evened the match 6-4, and cage against Holly Holm in tucky’s Tyler Ulis said. loss, but perhaps the most
All that was left for tennis’ took the decisive third set Melbourne, Australia. Row- compelling image from the
first Grand Slam since 1988 by the same score. dy Ronda finally met her ONE SHOT TOO MANY: Jor- NCAA tournament was in-
was a victory in the U.S. “I saw she was nervous,” match Down Under, when dan Spieth won the first two jured Georgia State coach
Open, surely a mere for- Vinci said, “and that Holm finished her off with major championships on Ron Hunter tumbling off
mality when Williams got to helped me.” a devastating kick to the the golfing calendar, and his stool after his son R.J.
the semifinals with a 43rd- Williams’ loss will surely go head. “I’ll be back,” Rous- coming down the stretch hit a 3-pointer to cap an
ranked Italian standing in down as one of the biggest ey vowed. of the British Open it looked improbable upset by the
her way. upsets in any sport, which as though he’d make it 14th-seeded Panthers over
At 33, Williams was poised was the only way to stand PERFECT SEASON CRUM- three in a row. The young No. 3 Baylor.
to put a remarkable cap- apart in 2015. BLES: With a roster full of Texan shared the lead with And let’s not forget UAB
per on a brilliant career. Several of these jaw-drop- NBA-quality underclass- two holes to go after sink- prevailing against Iowa
Roberta Vinci had other pers would’ve been at the men, Kentucky was 38-0 ing a 50-foot birdie putt. But State in another 14-beats-3
ideas. top of the list just about any and needed two wins to he missed an 8-footer at shocker.q