[Jenkins: At historic heights, Serena finally buckles].
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As dark clouds threatened to halt Pennetta’s charge, Vinci proved that there was still fight left in her as she hit back to secure a break of her own with a morale-boosting winner.
And then the president of the USTA gave her a check for $3.3 million.
Asked what she and Pennetta proved this week, Vinci asked some Italian reporters for the English translation of a word before answering: “Miracles can happen”. “Enjoy”. “I can tell you from a doubles standpoint, we felt it trying to win it. There is no doubt she felt the pressure“. She will follow the example of Marion Bartoli two years ago, who retired just a month after beating Sabine Lisicki on Wimbledon’s Centre Court and thus chose not to defend her title.
[At 34, Federer back in men’s final, ready for Djokovic].
“But for sure this was the last time for New York for me“.
The match between best friends and former doubles partners who first played each other when they were nine years old got off to a predictably cautious start for two players competing in their first grand slam final.
She plans to play Wuhan, Beijing and, if she qualifies, the WTA Finals in Singapore before hanging up her racket at the end of the year. “It’s amazing”.
The previous record for the oldest first-time major champion was another Italian: Francesca Schiavone was nearly 30 when she won the 2010 French Open, inspiring her two countrywomen.
Flavia Pennetta has defeated Roberta Vinci to win the U.S. Open, in a women’s final that was an all-Italian affair. The Open era began in 1968.
Flavia Pennetta finished her Grand Slam career in amazing fashion. Winning the US Open, my life is perfect. “Perfect”.
There to congratulate both Italians was Italy’s Prime Minister Matteo Renzi.
From the latter perspective, this achievement – leading to a potential maiden major’s title – has thus been a long time coming for the Brindisi native, who’s been on the Tour for nearly 15-years now.
Vinci struggled to produce a response to the setback as the excellent shots from the baseline which were key to the win over Williams evaded her.
“It was tough”, Vinci said. “I mean, with this – winning today – my life is perfect”. “I’m really happy! It’s what all players want to do”.
Flavia Pennetta of Italy celebrates defeating her compatriot Roberta Vinci during their 2015 US Open Women’s singles …
“This is how I say goodbye to tennis“, Pennetta said as her fiance, tennis player Fabio Fognini, captured the scene with his phone’s camera.
Vinci, who shared a house in Rome with Pennetta for three years, admitted it had felt “strange” to play her friend in a first Grand Slam final for both women. “When I wake up, I say, ‘I have a semi final today”.
She was also able to handle Vinci’s backhand slice, the most recognized part of the world No. 43’s game.
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“I’m supposed to play Wuhan and Beijing”, the Italian added.
