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Data urodzenia: 25.02.1982 Miejsce urodzenia: Brindisi, Włochy Narodowość: Włochy Miejsce zamieszkania: Verbier, Szwajcaria Wzrost: 172 cm Masa ciała: 58 kg Gra: praworęczna, oburęczny backhand Status profesjonalny od: 2000 Trener: Salvador Navarro
Q. I just wanted to ask how it feels to be in your first quarterfinal here?
FLAVIA PENNETTA: It's amazing. I mean, it's always nice to be in the quarterfinal in Grand Slam. It's the first time for me, and I really enjoy to play here.
I think today was a really good match.
Q. You mentioned on court that you feel, as you're an older player now, you don't feel as much pressure now as when you were younger. Is that helping you play better? Why now?
FLAVIA PENNETTA: Well, I think when you're old, you're starting to have different goal and try to enjoy a little bit more the life, no?
Also, when I was young, for me it was really easy to stay few months out of my house, don't see my parents.
Now everything is starting to be difficult. I love to come back. I love to spend time with them most of the time. And so I'm here, and try to play my best tennis, try to enjoy every moment and my best.
Q. How nervous were you coming out of Hopman Cup? After Hopman Cup when you hurt the wrist again, how did you deal with that just coming into here?
FLAVIA PENNETTA: Well, it was a really difficult moment, because I didn't know what I had. I had the MRI five days after, but the MRI was pretty good, because my ligament and my tendon was fine.
It was more (Asking in Italian.)
Q. Strain?
FLAVIA PENNETTA: No. When the bones chalk, it's like burn.
Q. Bristle?
FLAVIA PENNETTA: Yeah, so it was just inflammation.
Q. So just talk about today's match. You played great in the first set. She played a little better in the second, although you seemed to be getting upset. Then problems closing it out at 5 3, but then mentally you got back in and won.
FLAVIA PENNETTA: I think the first set was perfect. I was really aggressive. Everything was working pretty good. My serve, my return, everything was perfect.
In the second set, I just starting to wait a little bit more. She starting to play much better. Of course it's normal.
I had few chances in the second set and I didn't make it. But in the third it was a little bit up and down for both of us. 5 3, of course I was serving for the match and I play really bad (smiling), I have to say.
But I just try to keep going and try to be aggressive, and in the end was working pretty good.
Q. For you, in order to put your nerves aside and be able to play the way you want to at the end, what do you tell yourself?
FLAVIA PENNETTA: To push, to try to push hard the ball, and try to be aggressive. Was the only way to win today.
Q. Your next opponent, Li Na, same age, 31.
FLAVIA PENNETTA: Yes, so we are old both (smiling).
Q. Almost the same day.
FLAVIA PENNETTA: Almost the same day?
Q. Yeah, she's one day younger.
FLAVIA PENNETTA: No.
Q. Older.
FLAVIA PENNETTA: Oh, I feel better (smiling).
Q. What's your opinion? There has been a lot of talk about why women are playing better in their 30s now. What's your opinion about this?
FLAVIA PENNETTA: I mean, I really don't know. For me, I was playing better also when I was a little bit younger, so you just I just continue to work, to improve my game, and here I am.
Q. Your win today, that should see you boost into the top 20 come the end of the tournament.
FLAVIA PENNETTA: Oh, yeah? I didn't know that. Good to know.
Q. Does that give you confidence going forward?
FLAVIA PENNETTA: Well, of course it's important for me. Is important to have a goal.
I would like to be back in the top 20. Of course my dream is to be back in the top 10, but is gonna be tough. The season is so long. It just start.
For the moment, it's so good, so I hope to just keep going.
Q. You have a good track record against Li Na in the past, but you haven't actually...
FLAVIA PENNETTA: Yeah, but we didn't played in the last two or three years, so it's going to be, I think, completely different match.
Q. How do you feel she has improved in those last few years?
FLAVIA PENNETTA: Well, she is so good. Like she's one of the best player. Backhand, unbelievable; forehand, really good; physically she's strong.
So it's going to be really a good fight on the court.
Q. When you started your comeback last February, it's been almost a year now. Did you think you would get to this point?
FLAVIA PENNETTA: No.
Q. Because why?
FLAVIA PENNETTA: No, because the feeling I had was completely not good. I mean, I was keeping working in the good way with my team and with everyone, but in the beginning the result was not good at all.
I mean, I did five or six first rounds in a row. But everything just change, because I think I was there and tried to play all the time and working really hard.
Q. Is it like a second career now?
FLAVIA PENNETTA: No, it's always the same (smiling).
Q. How does the US Open semifinal prepare you for another match like this in the late stage of a Grand Slam?
FLAVIA PENNETTA: Of course the US Open was really important for me, but today was different, completely different. And, I mean, I'm ready to play. I'm ready to play every match now.
Of course I have pressure and I want to win all the time, but every match is different. Every time I go on the court I feel the same like the first one, so I have the same feeling.
Q. What are your thoughts on post game interviews? A few days ago, Seppi was asked why he wasn't losing his composure, as Italians do. Today you were asked what's your favorite restaurant. Then you been told you can go and have your carbonara. Do you think there is stereotyping for Italian tennis players?
FLAVIA PENNETTA: Non capito.
(Through translation.)
I think because in Italy there is like good food, so everyone talk about food and pasta and pizza and all the time the same thing.
Q. You know, you had to continue being aggressive with Angelique, but how hard it is like to go for your shots? And at the same time, maybe did you feel afraid that you're going to miss or you have to tell yourself, go for your shots, be aggressive?
FLAVIA PENNETTA: Well, it was tough because she's a really good fighter and you have to make three or four times the winner.
But I think was the only way to win today, to be aggressive and try to go for a winner, for a good shot.
But also don't be don't rush too much. Every point was really was long and I was try to be near the line, the baseline, try to don't lose court. It was the only way to win today.
MTT: Singles W(18): Kuala Lumpur 09, Memphis 10, Eastbourne 10, World Tour Finals 10, Cincinnati 12, Auckland 14, Sydney 16, Quito 17, Buenos Aires 17, Halle 17, Umag 17, Auckland 18, Eastbourne 19, Geneva 22, Auckland 23, Washington 23, Paris 23, Miami 24 Singles F(15): Metz 09, Basel 09, Johannesburg 10, Stuttgart 10, Toronto 10, Valencia 10, San Jose 11, Buenos Aires 16, Miami 17, Tokyo 17, IO Tokyo 20, Tokyo 23, Montpellier 24, Buenos Aires 24, Monte Carlo 24 Doubles W (5): Roland Garros 11, US Open 11, Monte Carlo 23, Toronto 23, World Tour Finals 23
Wywiad z Flavią Penettą po wygranym meczu IV rundy US Open 2014:
Spoiler:
Q. That's the fifth quarterfinal here. What is it about this tournament? Why do you play so well?
FLAVIA PENNETTA: Everyone make the same question, eh? Every day (smiling). I mean, I don't know. I'm just like to play here and maybe that's why I play good here.
Q. Do you always feel good when you come in?
FLAVIA PENNETTA: Yes. There is something, I don't know. I like the city all the time. When I get to New York, I feel much better. In New Haven, I wasn't play really well, and I had a bad moment on the court and everything. Just to come here I was already more happy.
Q. You made the semis last year. Having some great success late in your life. Can I ask you about Casey, who had been off the scene for a while and is coming back. Women playing great tennis into their 30s. Do you see her...
FLAVIA PENNETTA: I mean, I think we had a lot of things in common. We have a lot of injury, we come back and we stop and we come back. It was not easy also her career. She's starting to play better and better now. She's more consistent. Maybe just with age it's coming.
Q. Just feeling more comfortable, as well?
FLAVIA PENNETTA: Yeah. And also I think you're starting to enjoy more. When you are young, you want it too badly to have something. So much pressure. When you are a little bit old, you see things in different way. I mean, tennis is important, but life is important. Family is important. So you're starting to give the good balance, to have the good balance for everything.
Q. Do you really think of yourself as a little bit old?
FLAVIA PENNETTA: Yeah, I am (smiling).
Q. While we can't assume that Serena will win, you faced her a lot in the past without a great deal of success, but do you prepare any differently to play against Serena Williams than you would...
FLAVIA PENNETTA: If she win.
Q. If she win.
FLAVIA PENNETTA: She still on court (smiling).
Q. Is it different? Do you have to do something different to play against her than you would...
FLAVIA PENNETTA: Something different. You cannot invent something. I mean, you just have to play your tennis and do your best. Of course, she's better than me, but if I still believe I can beat her, maybe if she doesn't have a good day I can do that. If I get in the court and just play and try to don't take 6-Love 6-Love, I gonna take 6-Love 6-Love.
Q. But you still believe?
FLAVIA PENNETTA: Of course. Why not?
Q. Are you enjoying playing doubles with Martina Hingis?
FLAVIA PENNETTA: It's nice. It's really nice. We have fun in court and outside, so she's one of the best of the whatever. So it's really -- it's nice to play with her.
Q. She's been involved a little bit with Bencic. Have you been following Bencic's results?
FLAVIA PENNETTA: I know the scores and everything, and I know about her because I play against her in Rome. We have a really good fight, and of course she's really good. Young. So it's better to don't talk too much, I don't give her so much pressure. I mean, she's too young. But playing unbelievable.
Q. You're playing doubles later on this afternoon. Can you talk a bit about how you will look after your body between now and then in terms of what you'll eat and what you'll drink.
FLAVIA PENNETTA: Drink a lot. I mean, water, and also some ennervate [sic], supplies, yeah, supplement. And then we're going to have a lunch now for sure. I'm going to have some pasta and something. And then some treatment before, a good warmup, because to be ready again for be ready again and playing. And then after, I'm going to take like ice massage and treatment again, all this stuff.
Q. And if you don't know specifically the time the match will happen, do you have like a prematch snack?
FLAVIA PENNETTA: No, I mean, we just used to be ready at the moment we have to be. I mean, maybe you can warm up three times before one match because it's almost finished and then one win the set and stop again and warm up again. We are used to that. It's always like this. If you don't play at 11:00, it's like this.
Q. A lot of women who have won the girls title at a slam haven't won a women's title.
FLAVIA PENNETTA: Juniors?
Q. Juniors title. Haven't won the women's singles title. Why do you think that is? Does it help to win the juniors?
FLAVIA PENNETTA: For me, junior doesn't count. So I don't know if it's helping or not. But for me we give too much important things to juniors. I mean, juniors are juniors. They are too young. They are baby. They still have to play, enjoy. It's completely different world, juniors to professional.
“I doubt about myself, I think the doubts are good in life. The people who don’t have doubts I think only two things: arrogance or not intelligence.”- Rafa Nadal
"There are other tournaments in which I would like to win. However, in the end, trophies are just pieces of metal. The main thing that I took from tennis is love. She will remain with me forever, and I am sincerely grateful for this “ - David Ferrer
Wywiad z Flavią Penettą po przegranym meczu 1/4 finału US Open 2014:
Spoiler:
Q. What was Serena today?
FLAVIA PENNETTA: You see the match?
Q. Pieces.
FLAVIA PENNETTA: So? She play good. Really good.
Q. How do you respond to something like that coming in? You had confidence, made it this far, and then you come up against a force like that.
FLAVIA PENNETTA: You have to believe you can win all the time. I mean, you just go on the court and try your best. You don't have so many things to do.
Q. You started pretty strongly there. Did that give you confidence?
FLAVIA PENNETTA: Of course, but I had confidence from the beginning. I get in the court and try to do what I have to do to bring the match home, but she was really good today. I think we play really good tennis tonight. I mean, really strong tennis in everything. Today I push so much and she come in with the best tennis, I think.
Q. Did that make it easier? Because, you know, you know that she played well, or is it still hard losing in a stage like this?
FLAVIA PENNETTA: I mean, it's normal. When you're here you want to win and keep winning. I'm not happy in this moment. It's normal, no?
Q. Do you think you did your best today?
FLAVIA PENNETTA: You? What do you think? Do you see the match?
Q. I saw the match.
FLAVIA PENNETTA: And what do you think? Was it good tennis or not?
Q. It was good tennis, but I don't know if you thought you could have done...
FLAVIA PENNETTA: Maybe I just can be more with my serve, a little bit more high with the percent of the first serve. But not too much. I think we cannot talk about tennis tonight because we play really well.
Q. What are the positives you take out of this tournament then? You reached the quarters; lost to the No. 1 seed.
FLAVIA PENNETTA: I mean, it's positive, because from the beginning of the tournament, if you ask me the first day to get in the quarterfinal, have the chance to play Serena, yeah, to get in the semi for me was a dream, you know. But in this moment it's normal. Then when you lose, you feel you're upset. You're not happy. But for sure is a good tournament. It still is is a good tournament.
“I doubt about myself, I think the doubts are good in life. The people who don’t have doubts I think only two things: arrogance or not intelligence.”- Rafa Nadal
"There are other tournaments in which I would like to win. However, in the end, trophies are just pieces of metal. The main thing that I took from tennis is love. She will remain with me forever, and I am sincerely grateful for this “ - David Ferrer
Wywiad z Flavią Penettą i Martiną Hingis po wygranym meczu 1/2 finału debla US Open 2014:
Spoiler:
THE MODERATOR: Questions, please. It was a nice victory there. Can you just comment on the win and where this places you in the tournament?
MARTINA HINGIS: Well, I'm enjoying every second to be out there. I said that two days ago already. We make the semifinals. I think we beat some really great teams on the way to get there. We proved it again today. They were No. 3 seed, right? So they are always contenders to win a Grand Slam. Cara has been there, done that, you know. So I think we really deserve our spot to be in the finals now.
FLAVIA PENNETTA: I agree. (Laughter.)
Q. What role can playing World TeamTennis have in your success here this year, do you think?
MARTINA HINGIS: Well, I just felt like, to me, it was a great team that I was able to be in the last couple of years, you know, partnering with Leander and with Anastasia, having Murphy as a coach. He also came out there today to watch and support. The owner was there today, as well. You really feel the team spirit. He made it possible this morning. He was still in Washington in a meeting and he came to the second set.
FLAVIA PENNETTA: I didn't know that.
MARTINA HINGIS: Yeah, yeah. I think it's just really like the emotions are there. It's a great preparation, as well. I mean, any title is a great title to have, whether it's TeamTennis title, a Grand Slam or being No. 1. It's always another steppingstone in a career, and, you know, now we're here in the final. I'm really happy.
Q. Is there a physical payoff, three weeks, short period of time, just prior to the US Open?
MARTINA HINGIS: Well, we played a couple more tournaments after that. One week off and just being fresh into the Open. I always take the one week to really prepare and mentally be ready. I think that like after TeamTennis you're ready for anything. It's just like really draining. You're there, you're there for your team, you know, and it's just everything. After, it's a great relief. I think nothing can throw you off ever anymore. I think for every rookie it's a great thing to do. I have been doing it for the last six years. Whenever you feel down or anything, it's like those moments I think on the court that really pays off. To me it's always been great, you know, TeamTennis in the last years that I have played. I think now being on court -- and every victory gives you confidence. The last two years it definitely gave me confidence to play some great doubles.
Q. You have had obviously so many great moments at the US Open. How great does it feel to be back and be part of the theater of this event and now to get into a final, you know, here again after all the years that you have been here?
MARTINA HINGIS: Well, it means a lot to me. I mean, obviously, like you said, I only won one title here in doubles. That was a while back in '98. I made some good matches, like some great memories, but it's been a while. So it's like I really cherish this moment because I have had some great matches, but also in doubles I didn't feel like I had too many opportunities. I lost to players that actually I beat in this tournament now again, like whether it was Peschke, you know. So it felt like really far away. Also in the beginning of this tournament I think we had a really tough draw. So I think we really deserved our spot. I think this tournament it all came together for me. I played a lot better than in the previous tournaments. With Flavia I feel really comfortable being out there. I think that's the key to success.
Q. Great situation for Flavia. Flavia, have you ever thought of playing TeamTennis, too?
MARTINA HINGIS: The owner was after her.
FLAVIA PENNETTA: Not for the moment.
Q. Do you realize that you lost I think never more than seven games in each match? I think you won each quite easy. Which was the most difficult, and did you expect that?
FLAVIA PENNETTA: I mean, like she said, the draw was really tough from the first matches. We had luck in the first one because Rybarikova, yeah, she wasn't able to play. She was injured. But since then I think we played really well. The second match was amazing. Safarova-Pavlyuchenkova was really good. Like she say, we really feel comfortable on the court. We like to play together, and always we have a different -- in the important moments or when we are down, we always come out with some different things. We have always the energy to come back.
Q. Do you guys remember the first team that you beat when you partnered up this year?
MARTINA HINGIS: Yeah, next ones, of course.
Q. Does that give you confidence?
MARTINA HINGIS: Well, I think you have to play -- Makarova played really well this tournament. I mean, it always helps for you, you played really great tennis at this tournament. Because also playing well in the singles, it definitely helps.
FLAVIA PENNETTA: They play really well. It's gonna be tough.
MARTINA HINGIS: We have to come out with our best. I mean, if they beat us, too good. If it's not gonna be enough, even better.
Q. Do you know that there would be Davis Cup match between Switzerland and Italy in one week?
FLAVIA PENNETTA: That's true. In Geneva.
Q. I'd like to know...
MARTINA HINGIS: I was invited.
Q. Switzerland should win 5-Love or there is a chance for Italy?
MARTINA HINGIS: Well, I hope Roger and Stan, they're gonna win, of course (Smiling.) I mean, they are a great team if they want to win one time in Davis Cup it's now. Now is the time to shine. Definitely I'll be there rooting for them.
Q. Flavia?
FLAVIA PENNETTA: It's gonna be tough. Really tough.
Q. Martina, you have worn many hats: coach, World TeamTennis, doubles, mixed. Is this where you feel most comfortable? Maybe not here in press, but on court.
MARTINA HINGIS: If I have to serve it out that's not the most comfortable moment. I mean, I made the game 5-4 and then we couldn't return. I don't remember, 4-All. I was so happy I held serve. But, no, there are definitely moments when I think we build our moments or our strategy. Definitely she's very powerful obviously from the baseline. As long as I'm at the net I feel comfortable, you know. That's my time to do things. I think we just really click together at this moment even better than any other tournaments that we played together. Obviously the first time we played together at Eastbourne was also -- right away we beat three top 5 teams. In the end probably our gas tank was a little low in the finals.
FLAVIA PENNETTA: But we played really well.
MARTINA HINGIS: Now we have a day off.
Q. You were flying everywhere, catching everything. It was almost a ballet.
MARTINA HINGIS: It's like you want to keep that momentum. It's scary, because we already play like amazing first set. Like the first games was everything was like perfect, right? She hit, I'd go short crosscourt volleys. Everything. Yeah, so you just want to keep going and keep the momentum.
Q. Martina, you played doubles with many different partners in the past. What kind of comparison you can do with Flavia? Flavia, who played with Gisela Dulko, there is nothing easy to compare with Gisela with Martina because they play completely different.
FLAVIA PENNETTA: Not really. Gisela, she has -- in the net she was really good also and good eye and moving. I mean, that's why I play good with her, because I stay more in the back and she stay more on the net. I play more or less in the same way I was playing with Gisela. I feel comfortable in the same way.
Q. Martina, with your partners?
MARTINA HINGIS: They're similar. It's like I always had also like players who could hit and strike the ball from the baseline, good serve, and I think, you know, overpowering the other players. I mean, even if you play Gajdosova-Tomljanovic, she can hold her own from the baseline and I try to scare them at the net. That's very similar to me. All the partners I had in the past, except maybe Novotna -- I mean, she's great at the net. Even match point two days ago I was like so happy she has great reflection. So I don't have to be scared like someone on the second serve, they are going to shoot her off the court. It's not gonna happen. I know when she's there she's there. She can move. She can cross. I think that fits our game. We can adjust to each other in the moment.
Q. Can you compare the depth in the women's game right now to when you were in the prime of your singles career?
MARTINA HINGIS: Oh, I don't want to talk about singles. It's hard. I have been doing these answers and questions the past two weeks. I'm not gonna do that.
Q. Brava you say the last moment or other words?
MARTINA HINGIS: No, I think that was always my words since we play together.
Q. Just brava?
FLAVIA PENNETTA: I talk with her more in Spanish than in Italian because she's boyfriend is from Spain. (Martina slaps Flavia.)
Q. Finally inside information.
FLAVIA PENNETTA: No. My boyfriend? Spanish also. He's Spanish also.
“I doubt about myself, I think the doubts are good in life. The people who don’t have doubts I think only two things: arrogance or not intelligence.”- Rafa Nadal
"There are other tournaments in which I would like to win. However, in the end, trophies are just pieces of metal. The main thing that I took from tennis is love. She will remain with me forever, and I am sincerely grateful for this “ - David Ferrer
Wywiad z Flavią Penettą i Martiną Hingis po przegranym meczu finału debla US Open 2014:
Spoiler:
Q. So many opportunities in the third set. I don't know, thousand break points. Makarova first, Vesnina after. Pity.
FLAVIA PENNETTA: Yeah, just a little bit.
MARTINA HINGIS: No, you can't normally slip away so many opportunities, of course. I mean, it's a little disappointing that, you know, served well sometimes; sometimes we didn't go for it enough. Yeah, we definitely had our chances, but when we look back starting the tournament, if you ask me to sign a paper that I'm in the finals, I would probably accept it with my eyes closed. When you're that close of course you want to win. We beat them before. It's not like we didn't have a chance. We showed that we can beat the best doubles teams out there today again, but I felt like the juice ran out a little bit at the end. To push a little bit more, to have a little bit more energy like we had in the beginning of the tournament, I think at the end it was a little bit they were closer, they were more aggressive. Yeah, they pushed more.
Q. What was it like for you being back in a Grand Slam final? What was that feeling like? Do you feel the same?
MARTINA HINGIS: Well, I mean, it's amazing. I mean, like last year I lost here in the first round to Errani-Vinci. A year later I'm a year older.
FLAVIA PENNETTA: In the final.
MARTINA HINGIS: And I make the finals. So of course I'm really happy. Still a great tournament. That's not going to take anything away from that. Hopefully we will have more opportunities in the near future. We'll go to Asia and try to do our best there, and then next year there is again four Grand Slams.
FLAVIA PENNETTA: I mean, for be here after just four tournament in the final is a good result. We just play I think four tournament together, so, I mean, everything is working pretty good. Today we had our chance, but we didn't make it. I think we had to push a little bit more in the second set, but they play a more aggressive in the 3-2 and they go for the shot all the time. They had also a little bit of lucky, I think, in the important moment. But, I mean, this is matches. Tennis is always like this.
Q. You mentioned how hard it had been for you to find another partner after Gisela. Do you think you two can stay together for a while now? Australia?
FLAVIA PENNETTA: I hope so. Finish this year and then we gonna see what happened next year.
Q. You're full-time player again? I mean, you want to play all the tournaments or only...
MARTINA HINGIS: No.
FLAVIA PENNETTA: Not all.
MARTINA HINGIS: Not all, but definitely the selected, the smarter ones, the good ones, and the ones you feel good. Today I don't have to prove nothing to nobody, but definitely there is so many nice tournaments still this year. It hasn't finished yet. There is, yeah, next season. I'm looking forward to it already now.
Q. It's better if you stay, because for us, for Italians, it means Pennetta is going to play longer.
FLAVIA PENNETTA: They are scared that I am stopping.
MARTINA HINGIS: Oh, well, I'm keeping her out here hopefully next year, yes.
Q. For Flavia it was a big tournament, great tournament: quarterfinals singles; final in doubles. Which one of the two do you think surprised you more in a way? What was the bigger surprise, to make the quarters in the singles or to make the final in doubles?
FLAVIA PENNETTA: I think the final in doubles more than quarter in singles.
MARTINA HINGIS: She's been in the semis here last year.
FLAVIA PENNETTA: No, not for that. Just because, I mean, like I say, we didn't play a lot together. Definitely the draw was really tough from the first match. And the day when we saw the draw, we look each other and we say, Oof, again. I think we play really, really good. Every matches was high level, so... Bad luck for tonight. Still a little bit bitter.
Q. You were one of a handful of champions who was as good in singles and doubles, champion in both. Could you tell more the younger players to get out there to play doubles to round out their game? How do you feel about they're not playing as much doubles as you were when you were in your prime?
MARTINA HINGIS: I think it's not my job to do that. It's the job of the parents or coaches to have them play more -- um, not individual only like hitting with the coach. Sometimes for me it was always boring to just play one on one. I love playing doubles. But it has to be also the mentality. I mean, as a kid, it's not the kid who makes the choices sometimes. It's definitely the parents and the coach who has to make the choices and make it more creative. Then I think the joy with playing well and winning, it comes automatically. But, I mean, no, I think there are still a lot of players out there who play. I mean, you see Flavia, you see Makarova. There are young ones who start playing doubles, as well. Then maybe you focus more on the singles only. But there are still plenty of them out there, especially on the women's side.
FLAVIA PENNETTA: Uh-huh.
Q. You two mentioned Asia. Do you have any concrete plans which tournaments in Asia you're going to be playing together?
MARTINA HINGIS: Well, definitely Wuhan and Beijing.
FLAVIA PENNETTA: And we're going to see Tokyo. Tokyo is the only one, so we will see.
“I doubt about myself, I think the doubts are good in life. The people who don’t have doubts I think only two things: arrogance or not intelligence.”- Rafa Nadal
"There are other tournaments in which I would like to win. However, in the end, trophies are just pieces of metal. The main thing that I took from tennis is love. She will remain with me forever, and I am sincerely grateful for this “ - David Ferrer
2014 -Wuhan, Moskwa (oba w/Hingis)
2013 - Osaka (w/Mladenovic);
2011 - Australian Open (w/Dulko);
2010 - Miami, Stuttgart, Rome, Bastad, Montréal, Moscow, WTA Championships (all w/Dulko);
2009 - Hobart, Bastad (both w/Dulko), 's-Hertogenbosch (w/Errani);
2008 - Estoril (w/Kirilenko);
2006 - Bogotá (w/Dulko);
2005 - Los Angeles (w/Dementieva).
Finalistka (17):
2014 - Eastbourne, US Open (both w/Hingis);
2013 - Bastad (w/Dulgheru);
2012 - Auckland (w/Goerges), Barcelona (w/Schiavone);
2011 - 's-Hertogenbosch (w/Cibulkova), Tokyo [Pan Pacific], Beijing (both w/Dulko);
2010 - Madrid, Beijing (both w/Dulko);
2009 - Bogotá, Stuttgart (both w/Dulko);
2008 - Montréal (w/Kirilenko);
2007 - Bogotá (w/Vinci), Barcelona (w/Domínguez Lino);
2006 - Berlin (w/Dementieva);
2005 - US Open (w/Dementieva).
Fed Cup: 2013,2010,2009,2006
18 tygodni na fotelu liderki w deblowym rankingu WTA
“I doubt about myself, I think the doubts are good in life. The people who don’t have doubts I think only two things: arrogance or not intelligence.”- Rafa Nadal
"There are other tournaments in which I would like to win. However, in the end, trophies are just pieces of metal. The main thing that I took from tennis is love. She will remain with me forever, and I am sincerely grateful for this “ - David Ferrer
Flavia Pennetta pulled off the first massive surprise of Semifinals Day, stunning the World No.2, Simona Halep, to reach the first Grand Slam final of her career.
Though she had lost their last meeting, in Miami earlier this year, Pennetta had won three of the pair's four career meetings, and she came out swinging again this time, her huge groundstrokes hitting their mark and her net skills helping her finish points off in the forecourt time and time again in the match.
The No.26-seeded Italian won five games in a row to take the first set then went on another five-game streak from 3-1 down in the second set to close out the No.2-seeded Romanian in two, 6-1, 6-3.
Pennetta ripped 23 winners in 59 minutes - including a massive forehand winner on match point.
Afterwards, an overwhelmed Pennetta spoke to ESPN's Tom Rinaldi in her on-court interview.
"I just tried to play every match the best I could from the first one here," the Italian beamed.
"I was trying not to think too much about the draw and everything else and just focus on what I had to do when I got on the court, match by match. And here I am in the final - I'm really, really happy."
At age 33, Pennetta is the oldest first-time Grand Slam finalist in the Open Era.
"It's amazing, because 20 days ago my physio asked me if I thought I could ever win a Grand Slam or be in the final of a Grand Slam, and I said no," Pennetta said in her post-match press conference.
"I think my answer was no for a lot of reasons, but like always, you never know. You just have to play and try your best, and most of the time the good things come when you aren't expecting them."
Halep still had a phenomenal fortnight, however - having never been past the fourth round in Flushing Meadows before she made it all the way to her first semifinal here, and she did it in style, as well, winning back-to-back thrillers against Sabine Lisicki and Victoria Azarenka in the last two rounds.
"Of course I take positive things. I'm happy with my results here. I'm happy that I could reach the semifinals at the US Open for the first time - it's the best Grand Slam for me this year," Halep said.
"She played really well. She was strong. She was solid today. She deserved to win - she was better than me today. So I accept it, and I'm looking forward to resting a few days and then starting again."
“I doubt about myself, I think the doubts are good in life. The people who don’t have doubts I think only two things: arrogance or not intelligence.”- Rafa Nadal
"There are other tournaments in which I would like to win. However, in the end, trophies are just pieces of metal. The main thing that I took from tennis is love. She will remain with me forever, and I am sincerely grateful for this “ - David Ferrer
Kończy karierę Flavia pięknym akcentem. Należy uszanować tę decyzję, ale będzie Włoszki brakować. Lubiłem Jej tenis, bo z jednej strony przejawiała lekkość, mądrość taktyczną i naturalność w grze i płynnie się poruszała, a z drugiej potrafiła mocno przyłożyć z obu stron, nie pokazując jednocześnie wysiłku stojącego za uderzeniem. Miło się to oglądało, najlepiej pamiętam chyba ten fantastyczny run w IW, zakończony największym, poza dzisiejszym USO, sukcesem w singlu. Do tego jest mistrzostwo najwyźszej rangi w grze deblowej, co czyni Penettę zawodniczką kompletną i spełnioną. Nad urodą nie będę się rozpłyać, bo mnie Fabio znajdzie i pobije, ale i tu było na co popatrzeć.
Grazie Flavia i powodzenia poza kortem.
“I doubt about myself, I think the doubts are good in life. The people who don’t have doubts I think only two things: arrogance or not intelligence.”- Rafa Nadal
"There are other tournaments in which I would like to win. However, in the end, trophies are just pieces of metal. The main thing that I took from tennis is love. She will remain with me forever, and I am sincerely grateful for this “ - David Ferrer
Przynajmniej dokończy sezon i skorzysta z nagrody jaką na pewno będzie występ w Singapurze.
Co do najlepszych momentów, Lucas już wszystko wymienił. Ja dodałbym tylko świetne lato 2009, naprawdę mogła wtedy imponował. Szczególnie w LA.
MTT bilans finałów (17-26)
W: Queen's Club 13, Monte Carlo 14, Australian Open 15, Nottingham 15, Chennai 16, Rio de Janeiro 17, Wiedeń 17, Acapulco 18, Madryt 18, Queen's Club 21, Cincinnati 21, Indian Wells 21, World Tour Finals 21, s-Hertogenbosch 22, Roland Garros 23, Astana 23, Hong Kong 24
F: Auckland 14, Miami 14, Roland Garros 14, Waszyngton 14, World Tour Finals 14, Rio de Janeiro 15, US Open 15, Estoril 16, Pekin 17, Rio de Janeiro 18, Monte Carlo 18, Rzym 18, Lyon 18, Metz 18, Hamburg 20, Madryt 21, St. Petersburg 21, Adelajda-2 22, Buenos Aires 22, Rio de Janeiro 22, Cincinnati 22, Astana 22, Rio de Janeiro 23, Bastad 23, Rio de Janeiro 24, Dubaj 24
It was the unlikeliest of Grand Slam finals, but it turned out to be of the highest quality, and it ended in an absolute bombshell - Flavia Pennetta outdid Roberta Vinci in an historic US Open final for her first Grand Slam title and then announced she'll be retiring from the sport.
Neither player saw a run like this coming into the tournament - Pennetta, the No.26 seed, and Vinci, not even seeded. And they took out all the biggest names in the game along the way, Pennetta taking out No.4 seed Petra Kvitova and No.2 seed Simona Halep in the quarters and semis, and Vinci pulling off what might be one of the biggest upsets of all time, stunning the World No.1, Serena Williams.
But once they stepped out on the court Saturday it was all business, with Pennetta breaking for an early 4-2 lead but Vinci breaking right back, and the two going to a tie-break to decide the opening set.
Pennetta came through that one and her momentum only grew from there as she jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the second set, and she never really looked back, eventually closing Vinci out, 7-6(4), 6-2.
And then came the trophy speeches - first Vinci, who, despite finishing runner-up, was elated anyway.
"The past 24 hours I've had a lot of things on my mind, and I was a little bit tired, especially in the first set," Vinci said. "But I lost in the finals - I'm really happy, and of course really happy for Flavia.
"It's tough to play against a player you've known for a long time, but I tried to do my best. Flavia just played unbelievable today. It was a great match, and I have to just say congratulations to her.
"And I would like to say thank you to everyone who came to watch - I'll see you next year!"
Pennetta then took the microphone for her champion's trophy speech.
"I'm really happy right now," she said. "I have to say, before this tournament I never thought I'd be so far. I never thought I'd be the champion here. It's amazing when big surprises like this happen.
"It's a dream come true. When I was young, I was always thinking to be No.1 and win a Grand Slam. I also wanted to win Rome, but a Grand Slam is maybe a little better! But it's a dream come true. It's also nice to play with a friend of mine. Roberta played unbelievable. She had an incredible week."
But just as the microphone was being taken away, she had one last thing to say.
"There's one more thing I'd like to say - it's the way I would like to say goodbye to tennis."
Watch Pennetta's emotional - and historic - announcement at the trophy ceremony right here:
“I doubt about myself, I think the doubts are good in life. The people who don’t have doubts I think only two things: arrogance or not intelligence.”- Rafa Nadal
"There are other tournaments in which I would like to win. However, in the end, trophies are just pieces of metal. The main thing that I took from tennis is love. She will remain with me forever, and I am sincerely grateful for this “ - David Ferrer
“I doubt about myself, I think the doubts are good in life. The people who don’t have doubts I think only two things: arrogance or not intelligence.”- Rafa Nadal
"There are other tournaments in which I would like to win. However, in the end, trophies are just pieces of metal. The main thing that I took from tennis is love. She will remain with me forever, and I am sincerely grateful for this “ - David Ferrer
An Interview With: Flavia Pennetta (Finals USO 15)
Spoiler:
Q. Did it come a little more easily than you may have thought it was, today's match?
FLAVIA PENNETTA: Not really. I mean, the first set was a little bit of drama. Both of us were starting really tight from the beginning. I mean, was not easy to play today with one of your best friends in the tour, with one you know since long time. A lot of emotion coming together since yesterday. It's not easy to handle everything. But I'm really happy, because the first set was really tough. In the second one I started to play a little bit better, so I'm really proud of everything this week.
Q. What do you think you and Roberta proved to yourselves and proved to everybody?
FLAVIA PENNETTA: I think in woman's Italian tennis now since already few years it's really big, big moment for us in Italy and around the world. So we just -- I think we didn't prove too much. I mean, we already proved during this year how we are, how good we are in what we are doing, how much heart we put all the time when we get in the court. So it's amazing to have the chance to play with one of your friends. Anyway, like before, like before the match we say doesn't matter. We're gonna win. It's going to be a big win for both of us. It's going to be a really big win for both of us. It's something amazing, something -- I didn't think to be here. She didn't think neither to be here today. So it's amazing for our country. Is amazing for everyone.
Q. Could you elaborate for us or explain that you are retired as of right now or you will play till the end of the year?
FLAVIA PENNETTA: No, no, I will play until the end of year, but was my last match here in New York.
Q. So what will you play now until the end of the year? You will not play the Olympics?
FLAVIA PENNETTA: For the moment it's not on my goals.
Q. What will you play between now and the end of the year?
FLAVIA PENNETTA: I'm supposed to play Wuhan, Beijing. That's the only two I supposed to play. I think is gonna be the schedule the same. I don't gonna change too much.
Q. Do you have a wedding date set?
FLAVIA PENNETTA: No. (Smiling.) Not yet.
Q. You're playing so well. Why are you retiring?
FLAVIA PENNETTA: Ah, why? Because sometimes it's getting hard for me to compete. This is the important point. When you are in the court, when you have to play 24 weeks in the year, you have to fight every week. And if you don't fight every week in the same way I did today, it's gonna be like bad. For me, also. And I don't feel to have this power anymore sometimes. So this is the perfect moment, I think. Was a really hard decision to make, but I'm really happy that I did it. I'm really happy and proud of myself.
Q. You're No. 6 now in the race to Singapore. Would you ever try to add maybe one more event if you needed to?
FLAVIA PENNETTA: Well, of course. If I have a chance, of course.
Q. When the Olympics came up, you kind of hedged a little. Is there room for you to change your mind and maybe...
FLAVIA PENNETTA: Not really. I mean, for the moment I'm so happy that I take this decision. I don't feel -- I don't want to change nothing. I mean, I really think it's the good way. You never know. But for sure this one was the last New York for me. For sure.
Q. Does winning the US Open make it tougher to walk away from tennis or does it make it easier because you're kind of going out on top?
FLAVIA PENNETTA: I mean, it will be the same. Winning or lose today, it was nothing going to change. The decision was already there. I think this is the best way that someone have -- if I have to dream about how I want to finish, I want to stop playing, this is the perfect way.
Q. You told ESPN that you made your decision in Toronto.
FLAVIA PENNETTA: Yeah.
Q. Why was that the time that it was clear in your mind?
FLAVIA PENNETTA: Um, because I was doing -- I had a bad moment also in Roland Garros where I was almost -- three days before I was thinking to withdraw myself from the tournament. And then I keep just trying and fight and everything was going pretty good. But when you starting to think too much, it's the time like where you have to take like a decision, going or stop. You have to do that. And sometimes we are more scared to take the decision because we don't know what we like or we're going to do after, how is going to be the life after. But I think it's going to be a pretty good life. I mean, I'm really proud of myself. I think I did everything that I expect. More. Much more. Much more, I can say. I mean, it's great to do that for me.
Q. So when you made your decision to retire, how many people did you tell?
FLAVIA PENNETTA: My team, my coach, my physio, my physical coach, my family, and Fabio.
Q. Next year now when you're retired and back in Italy, when you will think back on this year's US Open, what is the one word or the one phrase that would best capture this US Open?
FLAVIA PENNETTA: I think it's today I have all the -- not the problems, but, you know, you starting when you are really young and you make a lot of decision, hard decision to make. You lose so many things when you're young. I mean, with this, winning today, it's -- my life is perfect. (Smiling.) So I cannot say something different. Perfect.
Q. Why did you win today?
FLAVIA PENNETTA: Why?
Q. Why.
FLAVIA PENNETTA: Ah, because I was really consistent from the beginning of the match. I didn't play my best tennis today. I have to say I was scared and tight from the beginning. Was not easy for me to hit the ball in the same way that I did yesterday. Roberta was playing unbelievable. I mean, she was moving good and doing perfect things all the time, but in the second set she start to be a little bit tired. So I was focused and try to push myself to do something more, to going for the match; the match point was perfect. I mean, I push, and I make it.
Q. What did the prime minister say to you after the match?
FLAVIA PENNETTA: I was so happy, so happy for us. He say, You don't gonna understand what happen now in Italy. I mean, it's good that you are here. He was talking with me and Roberta, because we was together. Because in Italy now is going to be crazy. It's good to stay here a few days, just relax a little bit, and then go back home.
Q. What effect do you think your decision to retire had on the way you played and the way you were thinking, the way you were doing everything during this tournament?
FLAVIA PENNETTA: Sometime is getting in my mind, but I didn't think too much about that. I was just focused on my game. I didn't think, Oh, this is my last one, oh, this is my last one, oh, this is my last one. No. I didn't think at all like this. I just try to play every match, just play tennis. I don't want to think what I gonna do after if I win or lose. Just play tennis. Go on court and play tennis. That's was my goal in the last two weeks.
Q. So what do you think the biggest reason you were able to do all this is?
FLAVIA PENNETTA: Oh, well, I didn't start really well the tournament. I have to say the first match was tough, the second one was easy, the score, but I was shaking so much. And when I have to go to the match with Niculescu, Cetkovska, I play so bad the first time I was in panic completely. I was panic attack. I cannot move. I cannot breathe. I cannot do nothing. So maybe I'm here just because I'm trying. I was fighting a lot. Every point. Just point by point try to do my best all the time and suddenly it's coming. I mean, yesterday was a perfect day, because I play really well. And today I didn't play so well, but enough to win. So I'm happy.
Q. You talked yesterday about getting very little sleep the night before my semifinals.
FLAVIA PENNETTA: Yeah, tonight I did not sleep at all.
Q. Not at all?
FLAVIA PENNETTA: No, a little bit, yes. From 1:00 to 8:00. That was good. Not bad.
Q. We'd like to have seven hours of sleep.
FLAVIA PENNETTA: (Laughter.)
Q. When did you tell Roberta? Was it when you were hugging at the net or sitting on the chairs?
FLAVIA PENNETTA: Sitting on the chairs.
Q. Is that when she hit you on the arm?
FLAVIA PENNETTA: Yeah.
Q. Because she couldn't believe? What exactly did you say and what was her reaction?
FLAVIA PENNETTA: I told her, Roberta, this is my last New York. And she say, che? Che? Huh? I say, Yes. No way. (In Italian.) It's perfect. Go. Go.
Q. You said on ESPN your night against Stosur was the one that maybe gave you the belief you could win the whole tournament.
FLAVIA PENNETTA: Well, not to believe that I can win the tournament, but at least I play my good tennis in that match, and so I starting to feel better and better.
Q. Did you receive any congratulations from Francesca Schiavone?
FLAVIA PENNETTA: Yes, of course.
Q. She's a little bit part of your success because she was the first to win a Grand Slam.
FLAVIA PENNETTA: Of course. She send a messages to both of us, because we have chat with four of us. You cannot see this chat because it's crazy. (Laughter.) And then she send me like a voice message yesterday, and she starting to laugh, Ha ha, now it's your turn. Breathe. You have to go to the toilet, eh, so many times? (Laughter.) Francesca, she's always like this. I didn't talk to her now because I didn't have the chance to take a phone -- I just called my mom and my dad.
Q. A lot of people wouldn't understand how the world 26 could play the 43rd ranked player in a Grand Slam final. I'm just curious what that says about the depth of women's tennis, and do you think it gives belief to lower ranked players they can climb to the top?
FLAVIA PENNETTA: I mean, it's happen because now I think the woman tennis, it's a little bit -- it's not like 10 years ago where the top 10 was really high level. I mean, it's not that they are not more high level. It's the one behind them they are coming stronger. So now everything can happen. Yesterday, I mean, everyone knows Serena, she's the best player. She's supposed to win this tournament. But sometimes also she can have a bad day. Yesterday for her was not a good day at all. Was a really good day for Robi, and she deserved to be here today. Was perfect for both of us.
Q. How much higher do I think that level is from, say, 10 years ago, from 1 to 50?
FLAVIA PENNETTA: Now from 11 to 100, it's much harder than before, I think.
Q. You and Roberta go way back as friends. Did you actually live together when you were kids?
FLAVIA PENNETTA: Yeah, yeah. We spend four years or three years in a house together in the same room in Rome in the Italian Federation. So we know each other really well. I mean, we have so many things in our life happening together. It's funny to be here today, because we play the first match when we were nine years old in Brindisi, in my country club. So today was a really big day for both of us.
“I doubt about myself, I think the doubts are good in life. The people who don’t have doubts I think only two things: arrogance or not intelligence.”- Rafa Nadal
"There are other tournaments in which I would like to win. However, in the end, trophies are just pieces of metal. The main thing that I took from tennis is love. She will remain with me forever, and I am sincerely grateful for this “ - David Ferrer
Simona Halep vs Flavia Pennetta Highlights HD | US Open 2015 (SF)
“I doubt about myself, I think the doubts are good in life. The people who don’t have doubts I think only two things: arrogance or not intelligence.”- Rafa Nadal
"There are other tournaments in which I would like to win. However, in the end, trophies are just pieces of metal. The main thing that I took from tennis is love. She will remain with me forever, and I am sincerely grateful for this “ - David Ferrer
Flavia Pennetta vs Roberta Vinci US Open 2015 The Final
“I doubt about myself, I think the doubts are good in life. The people who don’t have doubts I think only two things: arrogance or not intelligence.”- Rafa Nadal
"There are other tournaments in which I would like to win. However, in the end, trophies are just pieces of metal. The main thing that I took from tennis is love. She will remain with me forever, and I am sincerely grateful for this “ - David Ferrer
Flavia Pennetta announces retirement on court after U.S. Open win
Spoiler:
her retirement while still on the court.
Pennetta defeated Roberta Vinci 7–6 (7–4), 6–2 in Saturday's final. Vinci defeated tournament favorite Serena Williams in the semifinal.
Pennetta said during her post-match interview she was ending her career at the end of the year.
The 33-year-old Pennetta won her first Grand Slam title with the U.S. Open win. Her previous best finish was an appearance at the Australian Open quarterfinals last year.
Pennetta said the U.S. Open will be her last match in New York, and she'll consider playing in the Olympics.
“I doubt about myself, I think the doubts are good in life. The people who don’t have doubts I think only two things: arrogance or not intelligence.”- Rafa Nadal
"There are other tournaments in which I would like to win. However, in the end, trophies are just pieces of metal. The main thing that I took from tennis is love. She will remain with me forever, and I am sincerely grateful for this “ - David Ferrer
Flavia Pennetta
