IN PICS| US Open 2015: Flavia Pennetta captures first Grand Slam and then retires
New York: Flavia Pennetta won her first Grand Slam singles title Saturday, defeating Italian compatriot Roberta Vinci 7-6 (7/4), 6-2 in the US Open women's final, then promptly retired.
Flavia Pennetta hugs Roberta Vinci after the match.
Pennetta became, at 33, the oldest first-time Grand Slam women's champion in the Open era with the 93-minute triumph. "It's a dream come true," Pennetta said.
Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi, right, and Giovanni Malago, president of the Italian national Olympic Committee, react after Flavia Pennetta defeated Roberta Vinci.
But only moments after accepting the trophy, she said she had decided to retire after her ultimate victory. "This is the way I would like to say goodbye to tennis. I'm really happy," Pennetta said.
Flavia Pennetta returns a shot.
The only other Italian woman to win a major singles title was Francesca Schiavone, who captured the 2010 French Open and set the former oldest first-timer age mark at 29.
"I'm really happy right now," said Pennetta, a 150-1 long shot to win the title when the Flushing Meadows fortnight began.
"Before this tournament I never think to be so far. I never think to be a champion. When things come like this it's a big surprise to me," she said.
Roberta Vinci returns a shot.
Italian prime minister Matteo Renzi was among 23,771 in Arthur Ashe Stadium watching the first all-Italian women's Grand Slam final of the Open Era.
Pennetta took the top prize of $3.3 million (2.9 million euros), while runner-up Vinci received $1.6 million. She previously had won only $712,401 this year while Vinci's 2015 prize money before Sunday was $422,158.
The breakthrough win came in Pennetta's 49th Grand Slam appearance, the most needed for any women's major champion, two more than France's Marion Bartoli when she won at Wimbledon in 2013.
Flavia Penneta kisses the championship trophy.
"Always when I was younger I was thinking to be number one. I was also thinking to win Rome but I think the Grand Slam may be a little better," Pennetta said.
Pennetta, ranked 26th, and Vinci, ranked 43rd, each played in her first Grand Slam final after pulling a semifinal shocker.
Vinci shattered the hopes of Serena Williams to achieve the first calendar Slam since 1988 with a semifinal win over the top-ranked defending champion while Pennetta dispatched Romania's second-ranked Simona Halep.
"It was tough. I passed the 24 hours with a lot of things on my mind. I was really tired especially in the first set, but I was in the US Open final so I was really happy," Vinci said of returning after the emotional drain of ousting Williams.
Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta Jones along with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell watch the play.
Friends since childhood in southern Italy, Vinci, 32, and Pennetta had the oldest combined ages of any Open Era Grand Slam final duo, beating the former mark of just under 64 years from when Virginia Wade beat Betty Stove in the 1977 Wimbledon final.
"It's tough to play against one player you know from a long time. Was tough today but I tried to do my best. Flavia played unbelievable today. Great match," Vinci said.
@flavia_pennetta congrats I'm so happy you won. You deserved it. I am also happy for the rest of your life's journey. I will miss your smile
— Serena Williams (@serenawilliams) September 12, 2015Pennetta, who took a 6-4 lead in the career rivalry, leaped to a career-best eighth in the rankings with her 11th career title, the first since last year at Indian Wells.
The first US Open women's championship match between Grand Slam finalist debutantes saw Pennetta force seven break points against Vinci before breaking through for a 3-2 edge in the first set.
Special message from #USOpen champ @Flavia_Pennetta to her fans https://t.co/z2xp6D4Jya
— WTA (@WTA) September 13, 2015Vinci hit a backhand crosscourt winner to earn her first break point in the eighth game and Pennetta netted a backhand to pull Vinci even at 4-4 on the way to a tie-break.
Flavia Pennetta talks with Fabio Fognini as trainer Massimo Tosello looks on. (Photos: AP)
Pennetta won five of the last seven points in the decider, the last on a service winner to claim the opening set after an hour. She broke Vinci for a 2-0 lead and moved ahead 4-0 when Vinci netted a backhand to surrender another break.
Vinci broke back in the fifth game, a Pennetta drop shot leading to a Vinci overhead smash, and held but Pennetta regained momentum with a lob winner to hold and grab a 5-2 edge, then broke for the win.
