Hard to see how Roberta Vinci is going to stop Serena from reaching what would be an historic final on Saturday, she has yet to take a set from Williams the younger in four previous meetings and the pair did meet very recently in the Canadian Masters, so there will be no new surprises for the best female player on the planet. But and I guess you knew that was coming, she is sure to be just a little nervous and whilst the same is true about Vinci who is in her first slam singles semi final, it is kind of a progression for her in New York, where she has made the quarters now in three of the last four years and she clearly feels more comfortable here than any other major venue. Like a fine wine these Italian women tennis players seem to get better with age and it is not like the stage is new to Vinci, who is one of the best doubles players in the world, having made eight slam finals ( winning five) with playing partner Sara Errani, taking the title here three years ago. Vinci has nothing to lose, should not really as be as worried about this as Williams who probably feels she has four slams and history on her shoulders today and not just the US Open title and I can see the underdog keeping this as close as she did in Canada, where she took seven games and had six break points to eight of her opponent and had similar numbers on return as Venus/ Mattek-Sands and Bertens who all took Serena close here, did. Something similar will see this handicap bet home with at least a small degree of comfort.
 

 

 

Good Luck.