Pennetta quits after US Open glory

“Also, I was thinking it was going to be nice to be on court with her, and maybe lose, but for a moment so special for everyone, for her, for history”, she said.

As the crowd reacted with gasps, Pennetta continued.

And then the president of the USTA gave her a check for $3.3 million.

“This was a tough match for Serena, obviously she lost a set, but physically it wasn’t because there weren’t many long points”.

“This one was my last US Open match and I couldn’t think to finish in a better way”.

“After her career, what we will remember isn’t that she didn’t win the Grand Slam”. Vinci patted her pal on the back repeatedly, while Pennetta cried.

People watch the women’s championship match of the U.S. Open tennis tournament between Italy’s Roberta Vinci and Flavia Pennetta in Vinci’s hometown tennis club in Taranto, southern Italy, Saturday, Sept. 12, 2015.

Flavia Pennetta has won the first-set tiebreaker 7-4 in the unexpected all-Italian U.S. Open women’s final against Roberta Vinci.

However, both players refused to be swayed by the odds and fought their way through to the most unlikely title showdown that put Italy firmly in the spotlight of New York’s gaze.

Vinci admitted her shock win over Williams, which ended the American’s hopes of a first calendar grand slam since 1988, had been the greatest day of her life and perhaps it was too much to expect the 32-year-old to recover her poise less than 24 hours later.

6-2 win, the 33-year-old Pennetta becomes the fourth oldest grand slam winner in the Open Era and joins 2010 French Open champion Francesca Schiavone as the only Italian women to win a major singles title.

But set to rise to a career-high ranking inside the top 10 next week, Pennetta stunned the tennis world after accepting her most prestigious trophy yet. The players sought shelter in the tournament referee’s office, where they posed for pictures with Italian Premier Matteo Renzi, who attended the final and received a standing ovation from spectators when he was shown on the arena’s videoboards.

“I receive a lot of congratulations about my interview, but my English is so bad”. In retrospect, Shriver believes she should have, simply because Williams had been flirting with danger all year.

With the Italian Prime Minister in attendance, both players dealt with the nerves of playing in their first career major final early on.

She added: “I love New York. Yeah, my emotions are difficult to say, especially in English”. It was her first-ever major semifinal in 44 tournaments. “Now I have reached one Slam final, so I’m happy”.

Flavia Pennetta has made her dream come true, become a Grand Slam champion. “When I wake up, I say, ‘I have a semi final today”. You deserved it. I am also happy for the rest of your life’s journey. If you look at how many times she’s been able to pull it out, it’s no wonder it caught up to her. Her serve wasn’t looking as dependable. Sounds like a good way to go out, if you ask me.