U.S. Open: Italian Flavia Pennetta wins first Grand Slam title

Flavia Pennetta has clinched her first Grand Slam title by beating compatriot Roberta Vinci 7-6 6-2 in an all-Italian US Open final on Saturday.

Interestingly it was Vinci and not Pennetta that was seen by many as the favourite going into the finals having caused one of the biggest shocks in recent memory by knocking out world number one Serena Williams in the semi final.

However Pennetta proved her class in the finals to deny Vinci another headline win at the US Open.

As reflected in the first set, it was a close contest in which Pennetta held her nerve before the capacity crowd which included Italian Prime Minister*n Matteo Renzi.

The second set was much easier as Pennetta pressed on with her earlier advantage.

In claiming the top prize, Pennetta achieved a number of firsts.

She became the second Italian woman to win a Grand Slam singles title, after Francesca Schiavone at the French Open in 2010.

Also, at 33, Pennetta is the oldest first-time Grand Slam singles champion.

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Tunde Eludini

Tunde Eludini is a graduate of the Obafemi Awolowo University Ile-Ife, Nigeria where he studied International Relations. He is a Senior Correspondent coordinating the sports section for PREMIUM TIMES. Twitter: @tundeyeludini

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