What Happened to Roberta Vinci?
Roberta Vinci is an Italian former professional tennis player, best known for her exceptional doubles career, achieving a Career Grand Slam with Sara Errani and reaching world No. 1. In singles, she famously upset Serena Williams at the 2015 US Open semifinals before retiring from professional tennis in May 2018. Since then, she has remained active in sports, including competing on the professional padel tour and expressing interest in tennis coaching.
Quick Answer
Roberta Vinci retired from professional tennis in May 2018 after a distinguished career that included a Career Grand Slam in doubles and a memorable run to the 2015 US Open singles final. Post-retirement, she has maintained her fitness, engaged in paddle tennis, and in 2022, began competing on the professional padel tour, achieving a world ranking of 66 in her debut season. As of 2025, she has also participated in tennis events and expressed a desire to coach in the WTA Tour.
📊Key Facts
📅Complete Timeline14 events
Turned Professional
Roberta Vinci officially turned professional in tennis.
First Fed Cup Title
Vinci, as part of the Italian team, won her first Fed Cup title by defeating Belgium 3-2 in the final.
First WTA Singles Title
Roberta Vinci won her first WTA singles title in Bogotá.
Achieved World No. 1 in Doubles
Vinci reached the world No. 1 ranking in doubles, a position she held for a significant period with Sara Errani.
Completed Career Grand Slam in Doubles
With Sara Errani, Vinci completed the Career Grand Slam in women's doubles by winning Wimbledon, having previously won the French Open, US Open, and Australian Open.
Historic US Open Semifinal Victory
Vinci famously defeated world No. 1 Serena Williams in the semifinals of the US Open, preventing Williams from achieving a calendar-year Grand Slam.
US Open Singles Finalist
She lost to fellow Italian Flavia Pennetta in the US Open final, marking her best singles Grand Slam performance.
Career-High Singles Ranking
Roberta Vinci achieved her career-high singles ranking of world No. 7.
Announces Retirement Plans
Vinci announced her intention to retire from professional tennis after the Italian Open in May 2018.
Official Retirement from Tennis
Roberta Vinci played her last professional tennis match at the Italian Open, losing to Aleksandra Krunic in the first round.
Expresses Interest in Coaching
Vinci stated her desire to coach in the WTA Tour, specifically mentioning Garbiñe Muguruza, and confirmed she continues to keep fit.
Debuts on Professional Padel Tour
Vinci began competing on the professional padel tour, reaching a ranking of world No. 66 in her first season.
Attends Tennis Tournament in Trieste
Vinci was present at a tennis tournament at the Circolo del Tennis in Trieste, reflecting on the current state of Italian tennis.
Current Status
As of today, Roberta Vinci is a former professional tennis player, active in padel and occasionally involved in tennis-related events, maintaining her fitness and family life.
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🔍Deep Dive Analysis
Roberta Vinci, born on February 18, 1983, carved out a remarkable career in professional tennis, particularly excelling in doubles. Alongside her partner Sara Errani, she achieved a rare Career Grand Slam, winning all four major tournaments: the French Open (2012), US Open (2012), Australian Open (2013, 2014), and Wimbledon (2014). This formidable partnership also saw her reach the world No. 1 ranking in doubles in October 2012.
While her doubles success was consistent, Vinci's singles career reached its zenith in 2015 at the US Open. Ranked world No. 43, she pulled off one of the sport's greatest upsets by defeating then-world No. 1 Serena Williams in the semifinals, preventing Williams from achieving a calendar-year Grand Slam. This unexpected victory led to the first all-Italian major final, where she ultimately lost to her childhood friend Flavia Pennetta. Vinci reached a career-high singles ranking of world No. 7 in May 2016.
Vinci announced her intention to retire from professional tennis in December 2017, with her final match scheduled for the Italian Open in May 2018. She played her last professional match on May 14, 2018, losing in the first round to Aleksandra Krunic, marking the end of a career that yielded 10 WTA singles titles and 25 doubles titles. Following her retirement, Vinci has remained connected to sports. As of July 2020, she stated she keeps fit by playing paddle, going to the gym, and occasionally playing tennis. She also expressed a strong interest in coaching on the WTA Tour, specifically mentioning Garbiñe Muguruza as a player she would like to train.
A significant development in her post-tennis career came in 2022 when she began competing on the professional padel tour. In her debut season, she achieved a world ranking of No. 66, demonstrating her continued athletic prowess and competitive spirit. More recently, in August 2025, Vinci was present at a tennis tournament in Trieste, reflecting on the state of Italian tennis. As of September 2026, her official WTA and ITF profiles confirm her status as a former professional player, with no active matches listed. She has expressed contentment with her career and personal life, noting in February 2023 that her only regret was not winning an Olympic medal.
What If...?
Explore alternate histories. What if Roberta Vinci made different choices?