Biggest upsets of 2015

PARIS: The year 2015 saw quite a few upset victories for the underdogs. We take a look back on 10 of the biggest shocks of this year:

 

Vinci stuns Serena

Serena Williams looked almost certain to become the first player since Steffi Graf in 1988, and just sixth player overall, to complete a calendar Grand Slam after reaching the semi-finals of the US Open. Serena’s bid was crushed in stunning fashion as the 32-year-old Vinci rallied from a set down to claim a sensational 2-6, 6-4, 6-4 triumph, beating Williams for the first time to set up the first all-Italian women’s Grand Slam final in the Open Era.

 

Wawrinka downs Djokovic

Novak Djokovic completed one of the most remarkable seasons in tennis history in 2015 with victory at the World Tour Finals, but the all-conquering Serb was denied a career Grand Slam at the French Open as he was beaten in the final by Switzerland’s Stan Wawrinka. The world number one outlasted Madrid champion Andy Murray in five gruelling sets to move within sight of the one Grand Slam that still eluded him. All appeared to be going to plan as Djokovic grabbed the opening set 6-4, but a sublime show of stroke-making from the Swiss left Djokovic, renowned for his incredible powers of recovery, without any answers as Wawrinka wrapped up a famous 4-6, 6-4, 6-3, 6-4 victory.

 

Payne makes Melbourne Cup history

Michelle Payne became the first woman to win Australia’s 154-year-old Melbourne Cup after riding 100-1 outsider Prince of Penzance to an historic victory in November. Those long odds were nothing compared to the obstacles 30-year-old Payne, the youngest of 10 siblings, overcame on the road to eventual success. She lost her mother, Mary, in a car accident when she was just six months old with her career then sidetracked by a litany of injuries — including a head-first fall from a horse when she was just 18 which left her with a fractured skull and bruising on her brain. However, none of that could prevent Payne, reportedly just the fourth female entrant in Cup history, from winning the world’s richest two-mile handicap race, as she held off Max Dynamite (12-1) by half-a-length with Criterion (18-1) close behind.

 

Fury halts Klitschko’s heavyweight dominance

British boxer Tyson Fury registered one of the sport’s biggest upsets by outpointing long-standing heavyweight world champion Wladimir Klitschko to end the Ukrainian’s nine-year reign in Dusseldorf. Manchester-born Fury, 27, handed Klitschko his first loss since 2004 after winning a unanimous points decision 115-112, 115-112, 116-111 as the self-styled ‘Gypsy King’ landed the WBA, IBF and WBO world title belts. Fury, whose biggest previous win was against fellow Briton Dereck Chisora, was undeterred by the step up in class and backed up his pre-fight promises by confounding his decorated rival as well as the doubters with a skilful, measured performance.

 

Rousey reign ended by ex-boxer Holm

Holly Holm pulled off one of the biggest upsets in the Ultimate Fighting Championship when she knocked out previously unbeaten Ronda Rousey in their bantamweight title fight in Melbourne. Rousey touched down in Australia having won her last three bouts in just a combined 64 seconds, but Holm’s second-round head kick sent Rousey crashing to the canvas, ending her reign as the golden girl of mixed martial arts. Holm, the 34-year-old boxing champion turned MMA fighter, had entered the November showdown unbeaten herself but as a huge underdog. However, her combination of straight lefts and oblique kicks laid the foundations for the knockout blow, following it up with several blows to the head before the referee intervened, to record the win.