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Littlefield On Sports: U.S. Open Surprise And Ortiz's 500th Homer
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To the dismay of many, Serena Williams' pursuit of a calendar-year Grand Slam ended in the semi-finals round of the U.S. Open. But the women's finals, won by Italy's Flavia Pennetta, held a surprise of their own: Pennetta immediately retired after her big win.
In other news, fans of David Ortiz are ready for his Hall of Fame invitation, after the baseball great hit his 500th home run over the weekend.
Guest
Bill Littlefield, host of NPR’s Only A Game. He tweets @OnlyAGameNPR.
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ESPN: Flavia Pennetta Looking 'To Know Who I Am' Away From Tennis
- "Pennetta should have been used to surprises by then. Not only had she come through a crowded field to make the final during an otherwise lackluster season, but her opponent was not Serena Williams, who had been the heavy favorite in the other half of the draw. Instead, Pennetta faced childhood friend Roberta Vinci, who sensationally ousted Williams in the previous round."
The New York Times: Novak Djokovic Defeats Roger Federer To Win U.S. Open
- "Djokovic’s 6-4, 5-7, 6-4, 6-4 victory gave him a second U.S. Open singles title and a 10th Grand Slam singles title, moving him into a tie with Bill Tilden for seventh place on the career list."
Sports Illustrated: David Ortiz Built Hall Of Fame Career With 500 Homers, Playoff Stardom
- "If you needed one sentence to understand why David Ortiz has had a Hall of Fame career, try this: He is the only player in baseball history to hit 500 home runs and win three world championships without playing for the Yankees. If you do include Yankees, he joins only Babe Ruth (who played on seven championship teams), Mickey Mantle (seven) and Reggie Jackson (five, including the 1972 Athletics, when Jackson missed the World Series due to injury)."
This segment aired on September 16, 2015.