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Roberta Vinci Ends Serena Williams' Grand Slam Bid; Liverpool Travels to Manchester United; Will Mayweather Fight Again; Tennis Pro James Blake Taken Down by NYPD. Aired 1-1:30a ET

Aired September 12, 2015 - 01:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

[01:00:12] LYNDA KINKADE, CNN ANCHOR: Hello, I'm Lynda Kinkade, and this is CNN NEWS NOW.

Days before one of the largest religious gatherings in the world, a train has crashed in the city of Mecca killing more than 107 people. Heavy winds knocked it over. The incident comes just nine days before the annual pilgrimage which brings millions of Muslims to Mecca.

Two marches are planned today in Europe to show support for migrants and refugees. More than 80,000 people are expected to march in to London's Downing Street. And in Madrid, a march is planned for the city's main train station to the country's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Nearly a million and a half people have marched in Barcelona on Friday, calling for Catalonia to break away from Spain. It comes just weeks ahead of regional elections, which are being portrayed by local authorities as a proxy vote on secession with Spain. Polls show a separatist coalition of parties with a narrow lead.

The Japanese government has ordered the evacuation of 185,000 people from dangerously flooded areas. Rain pounded northern Japan this week dumping 60 centimeters of some areas. At least three people have died and 27 have been injured.

And that's your CNN NEWS NOW. I'm Lynda Kinkade.

Up next, "CNN World Sport" with Kate Riley.

You're watching CNN, the world news leader.

KATE RILEY, CNN WORLD SPORTS ANCHOR: Vinci, she came, she saw, she conquered. Serena shocked in bid for slam. In fact, two defending champions go down on the same day.

But on the men's side, it was a little more expected. Did we ever think we would see this? Louis Van Hall and David De Gea together again, shaking hands and even smiling.

Thanks again for joining us. "CNN World Sport" starts right now.

Hi, there. Welcome along to "World Sport" live from CNN Sport Center. I'm Kate Riley. It's been described as the greatest sporting upset of the 21st

century, certainly the biggest shock in tennis that anyone can remember. Serena Williams' quest for the grand slam is over. This was supposed to be an easy stepping stone to another final. Nobody thought any other result was possible, not even her opponent, the unseated Roberta Vinci. The Italian ranked 33rd in the world, but she was in uncharted territory when she won the second to level the match.

For Serena, her nerves were starting to get the better of her. She knew she had to up her intensity and in the fifth game of the third set she did. Williams will be celebrating every point to the point, in fact, that her opponent seems to find it a musing. She started to feel it now, but Serena's victory was in jeopardy. Look at the way Vinci played this point. When it finally went her way, it was the Italian who let it out, look at me, shout for me, give me some respect, she said. She found the triple point for the game was finally up for Serena. And you just have to look at the way she finished up, a brilliant dink over the net. Serena's historic run was over. Vinci became overcome with emotion, her opponent left the court. The Italian, meanwhile, was left to reflect on a historic upset and her own personal triumph, the greatest day of her life.

And Andy Scholes witnessed an incredible story today, and just not the story anyone expected.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ANDY SCHOLES, CNN SPORTS ANCHOR: Roberta Vinci shocked the world in her own win over Serena Williams on Friday in the women's semi finals. Serena's 33 grand slam winning streak is now over, along with her bid to win her first-ever calendar-year grand slam. Her fans obviously disappointed they won't get to see Serena go for that on Saturday, especially the fans that had tickets. Vinci actually sympathizes with those fans. She apologized after the win saying she understands why the fans would be upset with her winning, but she said it was a dream come true, and it was definitely her day.

ROBERTA VINCI, TENNIS PRO: It's amazing. It's like a dream, you know. It's -- I'm really happy but, of course, I'm a little bit really sad for Serena, because she's an incredible player, number one.

SERENA WILLIAMS, TENNIS PRO: She's going for it at a late age, so that's good for her to keep going for it and playing so well, and actually I guess it's inspiring. But, yeah, I think she played literally out of her mind.

VINCI: I'm feeling good right now. I can maybe touch the sky with my finger.

[01:05:09] SCHOLES: How confident was Vinci that she was not going to beat Serena in the finals? She actually booked a flight for home on Saturday. She won't be taking that flight. She'll be taking on fellow Italian Flavia Pennetta in a women's championship match that no one saw coming.

In Queens, New York, Andy Scholes, CNN. (END VIDEOTAPE)

RILEY: And no one saw this coming. It will be an all Italian final. In the women's' singles, the very first one at the grand slam final in the open era, Vince will meet Flavia Pennetta. Pennetta holds a 5-4 edge in nine previous encounters. And back in 2013, they played in the quarter semi finals. Pennetta won that one, 6-4, 6-1.

Roger Federer books his place in the final of the U.S. Open after some fine serving to beat Franken. Federer was unbeaten now in 12 matches. Federer proving he could still win and ended 6-4, 6-1.

Novak Djokovic won to beat his record final. For all the wrong reasons, it was the most lopsided men's semi final at the grand slam event in the open era. Djokovic was almost embarrassed at the end of the match with this result.

Djokovic beat Federer for the master series title. However, the Serbian beat him in the last major final, and that was at Wimbledon.

James Blake issues a response to the headline-making arrest.

But first, what a difference a week makes in football. David De Gea signs a new contract with United.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

RILEY: Welcome back. We're hours away from another huge weekend in the English primary league, which resumes after the international break. Later on, Everton faces Chelsea. The Belgian has been ruled out for three months after the Belgian needs surgery after injuring his knee in training. Crystal Palace post title contenders match the city.

And then the fans will be treated to one of football's greatest rivalries when Liverpool travels to Manchester United.

The Spanish goalkeeper, David De Gea, has been amongst United's best players in the last two years and is one of most respected anywhere, but he hasn't played at all this season. Now, though, he seems to be making the best of it having just signed a new four-year contract.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

[01:10:00] LOUIS VAN GAAL, MANCHESTER UNITED MANAGER: I'm also very pleased because I said during the preparation time that I don't want to sell the hair, and at the end, it's a confirmation what I'm always saying about the process. It's not easy for the player, not easy for the clubs. And at the end of the process, there's always things that can happen, and that has happened, and I'm pleased that he signed for more than four years.

DAVID DE GEA, PRO RUGBY PLAYER: A lot of speculation this summer, but I can work now and relax. I'm happy here, and now we have to look forward and play well to win the games, and hopefully we can win a trophy. (END VIDEO CLIP)

RILEY: Well, as I mentioned, United's take on Liverpool on Saturday. He'll be looking forward to get back in the mix of things.

He's not the only United player hoping for the best. Earlier, Don Riddel spoke about that and the weekend's football with the European football expert, Mia Rizike (ph).

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MIA RIZIKI, EUROPEAN FOOTBALL EXPERT: The team in Paris said they wouldn't be bidding on him come winter, so the whole saga is over. He really has no option but to give it his all to Manchester United and if he wants to be number one in the Spanish team. He has to be the one they look for and look to, especially since Romero hasn't done what they expected him to. I think some people expected the performances he's put in, but they believed in him, and this is a goalkeeper that can save you a good 10 points a season.

DON RIDDEL, CNN WORLD SPORTS ANCHOR: In Spain, the big game this weekend is Barcelona versus Molitico. Both teams yet to concede a goal this season. Who are you looking forward to seeing in action in this one?

RIZIKI: I'm looking forward to seeing Greaseman, if I'm being honest. They have a very balanced team this season. They have a great forward line, but they've brought in some very interesting players, and I think Greaseman, with the second season under his belt, his intelligence going forward will provide something really special for them. They've got Filipe Luis going, so I think he can do something really special for them. This is a squad I find to be very honest and better than most, and I think they can cause real, real damage this season and perhaps even Trump Madrid to second place or even Trump Barcelona to first. This is a team to be reckoned with this season, and I think they have a nice varied amount of talent.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

RILEY: Away from football now, and it certainly isn't surprising there is a South Korean golfer at the top of the leaderboard. The LPGA's fifth major reaches halfway point. She's won all four of the traditional playoffs and has two in the bank this year, but she struggled with two bogeys and a double. That was six birdies, including on the 17th. Meanwhile, Lydia Coe also had to make stay. She had five birdies. This terrific approach left her with an easy putt in. But she also had three bogeys and a 2 under par round of 69. Just who is setting the pace, then? Well, it's Mi Hyang Lee who is really looking for her place. With a bogey on 18, American Morgan Pressel had the best round of the day, and trails by a stroke. Meanwhile, co-leader Lexi Thompson among a handful tied for fifth five strokes behind.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[01:15:53] RILEY: Just four months ago, we had what everyone called the fight of the century after Floyd Mayweather defeated Manny Pacquiao. Floyd said this is his last fight. Do you believe him? If he wins this fight, he would be on 49 and just one away from a legendary Rocky Marciano. That chance will come around in 24 hours' time in Las Vegas when the American takes on Andrea Berta. So what can we expect?

Patrick Snell has been speaking to Boston correspondent for "The Guardian" newspaper, Kevin Mitchell.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KEVIN MITCHELL, BOSTON CORRESPONDENT, THE GUARDIAN: Andre Berta has been a fine champion in the past. He's 32, still six years younger than Floyd, but not the same pedigree. He's lost four of the last six. It's very much considered in the trade and among fans as a bad selection by Floyd. Floyd picks all his own opponents.

PATRICK SNELL, CNN WORLD SPORTS ANCHOR: Reports here on this one. The fight is not a sellout. Hotels are not doubling and tripling their prices this time in Vegas. How much of a blow to his pride and ego might that be?

MITCHELL: That's a real blow. That hurts more than a punch. Floyd values himself by how much money he generates. He's very money oriented. It gives him bragging rights in the wider sporting world, especially in boxing. He is the most powerful man in boxing. I think the people in Las Vegas are going to be concerned that this is going to be a bit of a dud fight.

SNELL: OK, so once bitten twice shy. You might argue if he gets to 49, he ties the legendary Marciano's record. Won't the temptation be, Kevin, to get to 50? Won't that be too great for him?

MITCHELL: I think so. Inasmuch as money is his gold. He can't walk away from the chance to create more history. 50 is a lovely round number. He could pick his opponent. It's too close to just walk away from, and I don't believe a word what he says when he declared again this week this is his last fight.

SNELL: What will Mayweather's legacy be if this is the end, and will the sport of boxing miss him?

MITCHELL: I think boxing will miss him enormously. Whether you like him or not, it demonstrates a wider spectrum of sport, not just boxing. There aren't too many in boxing at the moment who could claim to have that sort of pulling power. But I think his legacy will inevitably be flawed because he's walked away from a couple fights that people really want to see. All the great fighters of the past had someone great to measure themselves by. Mayweather says he's not concerned about that, that he's the best, any way. Muhammad Ali rates himself as fifth best ever. I asked him a few times, wouldn't you like to be judged against a great rival? He keeps going on about occasionally he can produce his "A" game under pressure, but mainly his "b" game is better. I don't mind that sort of arrogance. I think deep down, when he's retired, when he thinks about it, he just might regret not having four opponents at their very best, like Pacquiao. The Pacquiao fight last May came way too late for everybody, five years after it was first muted. If that had happened five years ago, that would have been a career-defining fight. I don't think he will come back here, I think he will have a rematch with Pacquiao.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

RILEY: Next, we return to our top story, how Vinci decoded Serena in the final of the French Open.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[01:21:58] RILEY: Welcome back. Many tennis fans will still be in shock that Serena Williams' quest for a calendar-year grand slam is over. She lost to unseeded Italian Roberta Vinci. What's more shocking is the American had not won a grand slam match since 2014 and not a U.S. Open for four years. It would have been the first grand slam since Steffi Graff back in 1988.

CNN's tennis expert, Ravi Ubha, took in the match at Flushing Meadow and gives us an insight into how such a shock happened and what the future holds now for Serena.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

RAVI UBHA, CNN WORLD SPORTS TENNIS EXPERT: If you look at the matched stats, Serena 50 winners, 40 forced airs. Then she had more forced airs than winners. What have we seen this year without the majors? She was winning all those big points. Not today against Vinci. Everybody was expecting in the third set Serena to win it. Even after Vinci won in the second set, expected Vinci to wilt. It didn't happen, and also Heather Watson saying the player was able to hold her nerve. I think a lot of people going after this loss might be jumping on the bandwagon saying, what's going to happen to Serena now? We have to remember this. She won three grand slams this year. She won three in a row. She won three grand slams at the age of 33. So I don't think going into the next year she's all of a sudden not going to win any majors. I think she's going to tie Steffi Graff, get to number 22, and surpass Steffi. This was a huge occasion because even Serena would have expected to win this match probably in the final against Flavia Pennetta, who she had never lost to before. It's not the end for Serena. Expect her to come back as she always done throughout her career.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

RILEY: Serena's defeat wasn't the only shocking tennis incident we witnesses today. Late on Friday afternoon, video emerged of the wrongful arrest of the retired American player, James Blake, on Wednesday. And as you can see, Blake was standing outside the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Washington, totally minding his own business when a policeman tackled him and dragged him to the ground. Blake was then pinned face down in the street while he was cuffed. As he has always maintained, he didn't fight or resist arrest. He was released 15 minutes later. It also emerged that the officer has a history of using excessive force. Both the NYPD and the New York mayor have apologized. Blake, who reached a career high while number four in 2006 and was a

two-time U.S. Open quarter finalist, received quite an ovation when he was spotted by the cameras in the crowd Saturday night. A nice gesture.

So it came just a few hours after Blake released a statement detailing his thoughts. And he wants to use his profile for the better. He said, "Extending courtesy to a public figure mistreated by the police is not enough. As I told the commissioner, I am determined to use my voice to turn this unfortunate incident into a catalyst for change in the relationship between the police and the public they serve. For that reason, I am calling upon the city of New York to make a significant financial commitment to improving that relationship, particularly in those neighborhoods where incidents of this type I experienced occur all too frequently."

[01:25:28] By the way, look for James Blake on weekend editions of "World Sport," getting back to what he does best, talking about tennis.

But next, the countdown begins to one of the greatest shows on earth, the Rugby World Cup.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

RILEY: Watch out, the big boys are in town. The All Blacks arrived in London ahead of the Rugby World Cup. As soon as they touched down, they headed for the Tower of London for a tour. The historic building is, of course, home to the crown jewels. And they will be looking to lift the crown jewels as they look to become the first team to win back-to-back World Cup titles.

If you're excited about the Rugby World Cup, why wait another seven days for kickoff? In just two hours, here on CNN, you can catch Alex Thomas for the first in a series of special reports, "CNN World Rugby," which aired in just two hours from now only here on "World CNN."

That's it for our special edition of "World Sport." I'm Kate Riley. The international news headlines are next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)