SPORTS SPECIAL Friday, September 11, 2015 23 New York Court in 1970 and Germany’s Graf op-ranked in 1988. can reach the brink of two of Vinci suffered her most recent loss theT greatest achievements in to Williams at a Toronto quarter-final history today by defeating ’s last month. and advancing to “I’m not going to underestimate As Saturday’s US Open final. her,” said Williams. “She has played The 33-year-old American, who really well. She’s not in the semifinals Serena eyes brink already holds all four major titles, is of a for no reason. She chasing the first calendar Grand Slam knows what to do and she knows of calendar Slam since in 1988 and trying to what to play. match Graf’s Open Era career record “I just think it was great that I just in Open semis, DT of 22 Slam singles titles, two shy of played her because I kind of know News takes a look ’s all-time record. what to expect, and I’ll be more ready “There’s always another record. for it this time.” at her prospective There’s always another person to Vinci, 32, has already enjoyed a catch,” Williams said. measure of success by reaching her milestones… “I never really thought I would first Grand Slam semi-final, even if be in this position where I would she is facing Williams. even be talking about records, talking “I have a lot of experience, but about passing Steffi Graf or even when you play against Serena, doesn’t

mentioning Margaret Court. “I just matter,” Vinci said. “You have to play win it.” Pennetta has won grew up trying to be the best that I better than better than better.” three of four meetings could and do the best that I could. Williams is 53-2 this season with Halep, including a I worked really hard for everything, and a huge favorite over Vinci but fourth-round affair at the so to even be mentioned in that Pennetta warned not to discount her 2013 US Open, but lost conversation is great.” compatriot. their most recent meeting If Williams gets past 43rd-ranked “I think she has a chance,” said this year at Miami. Vinci, who has lost all four of their Pennetta. “She has to go in the court “It looks like she’s not career meetings without taking a set, and try her best. You just have to go that powerful but she is,” she will make her bid for history on court and try everything.” Pennetta said. against the winner of Thursday’s Czech fifth seed Petra Kvitova, a other semi-final between Italy’s two-time Wimbledon champion 26th-ranked Flavia Pennetta and ousted by Pennetta in the Romanian second seed . quarter-finals, beat Three-time defending champion Williams on Madrid clay Williams, who seeks an Open Era- in May. She said she Williams would record seventh US Open title, is 7-0 would be shocked if become the second against Pennetta and 6-1 against Williams did Halep in their career rivalries. not woman in the Open Williams has played down the one- Era to win four US year feat, saying she had more Open titles in a row, pressure completing matching Chris her second Evert’s run from “Serena “To Slam” than 1975-1978 make a a calendar winner to Slam, her you have but she win the to finish the point admitted as title. seven times. She’s really consistent. she reached “She’s She’s always there. The ball always he last four “It more come back. It’s going to be like is important to focused marathon.” me.” than she has After losing to Williams in the Only five players before, and Cincinnati final, Halep said she would have completed the she’s that kind be cheering for her to complete the calendar-year sweep of of the player who calendar Slam, although she has the Australian, US and French is playing better every qualified that stance a bit. Opens and Wimbledon -- Americans match,” Kvitova said. “I want Serena winning if I’m not Don Budge in 1938 and Maureen “If she is going to be in the final, I in the final,” Halep said. “If I will be Connolly in 1953, Australians Rod think she is going to put everything in the final, of course I will fight for Laver in 1962 and 1969 and Margaret that she has inside and she is going to my chance.”