Common consensus used to be that tennis players peaked young and their careers were done well before hitting 30. Not so any longer.

Serena Williams’ recent attempts to re-write the history books have blown this theory out of the water. And this summer in New York, the American was just one of several thirtysomethings sticking their noses up to Father Time.

Having been crowned champion at the Australian Open, Roland Garros and Wimbledon, the World No.1’s quest for one of the few accomplishments to elude her – the Calendar Year Grand Slam – was the talk of the tennis world as it headed back stateside.

Interspersed between Wimbledon and the start of the North American hardcourt stretch was the chance for success at a couple of tennis’ less celebrated venues. Anna Karolina Schmiedlova, Lesia Tsurenko and Samantha Stosur were among those to grasp the opportunity for silverware, triumphing in Bucharest, Istanbul and Bad Gastein, respectively.

As usual, the US Open build-up began in Stanford, where Angelique Kerber took home the trophy after defusing big-serving Karolina Pliskova in an entertaining final. Over in Washington DC, Sloane Stephens finally delivered on her boundless potential, lifting her maiden WTA title – and the monkey from her shoulders – before the WTA headed across the border for an entertaining – and unpredictable – Rogers Cup, eventually won by the brightest of WTA Rising Stars, Belinda Bencic.

In Toronto, Williams slipped to a surprising semifinal loss to Bencic, but she dusted herself down from this setback, signing off ahead of her date with destiny in New York with victory over Simona Halep in the Cincinnati final.

Once at Flushing Meadows, the stars seemed to align for Williams as her principal rivals fell like dominos. When No.2 seed Halep lost to Flavia Pennetta in the first semifinal, Williams’ path to the title appeared clear.

However, her own final four foe, Roberta Vinci, had not read the script.

The Italian’s expectation levels going into their meeting were low – so much so that she had booked her flight home to coincide with the final. This move appeared a prescient one when she dropped a one-sided first set, but as the contest wore on belief started to course through her veins. After ending one marvelous exchange by poking away a volley midway through the final set, she cupped a hand to one ear, imploring the Flushing Meadows faithful to put their partisanship to one side. By the time she crossed the finishing line they had.

In the final, it was the 33-year-old Pennetta that seized the day, overcoming some early nerves to be crowned one of the most surprising – and popular – champions in US Open history.