Week 35 - US Open Singles Main Draw - Hard

Jan · Hall of fame

RE: Week 35 - US Open Singles Main Draw - Hard

skibbarriz · Strong Club Player

Everything about this is completely unbelievable!

Pennetta vs Vinci in the final of the US open singles?! Must be something in the Italian drinking water.

tony_orient · ATP qualifying

Certainly the surprise result of the year. The times Serena has come through from losing positions, it didn't even feel like a potential upset until it happened.

Hard to believe either Vinci or Pennetta will be a grand slam champion. Hopefully both of them being Italian and so knowing each other well means they can relax and play a good match.

Peter too · Tennis legend

They alternated wins until the last time they met when Pennetta won in the US Open qualifying tournament in 2013. The record
now stands at 5-4 to Pennetta.

tony_orient · ATP qualifying

As it is now vaguely relevant to bring it up, Laura's win over Roberta Vinci in July 2012 is still one of my favourite Laura matches. I mention it because it shows that if Roberta Vinci and Flavia Pennetta can reach a Grand Slam final then why can't Laura or Heather or Johannah. Maybe not likely, but they are good enough that it could happen, and that's what keeps us interested!

indiana · Tennis legend

If and when Serena departs the scene there could be a hugely open and very uncertain period in women's tennis with big opportunities.

Much to motivate many players, including ours

Spectator · All-time great

That's a lovely point to make, tony_orient! Thank you for it.

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

So SO pleased for the Italians (although, just possible, it'd been nicer if they weren't up against each other ?????)

But, at 5 ft 4, age 32, and with a really atypical game, Roberta Vinci is a joy to watch when she's on form.

And, age 33, Flavia is an old favourite.

Just shows, that age is no barrier to suddenly coming through and having the best run of one's life. Nor indeed lack of form. Or height. Or any other factor.

Good luck to both.

korriban · Challenger level

tony_orient wrote:
As it is now vaguely relevant to bring it up, Laura's win over Roberta Vinci in July 2012 is still one of my favourite Laura matches. I mention it because it shows that if Roberta Vinci and Flavia Pennetta can reach a Grand Slam final then why can't Laura or Heather or Johannah. Maybe not likely, but they are good enough that it could happen, and that's what keeps us interested!

Because they would have to win 6 Grand Slam level WTA matches IN A ROW.

In my opinion, on their day, all 3 are a match for most. Heather has won 2 WTA International tournament titles, which is brilliant and was awesome against Serena at Wimbledon. Who couldn't have been super impressed with Johanna at the US Open and in the 2 previous tournaments, with most of her technical frailties apparently dealt with and a new mental approach....and she's improving too! And as I've said oftentimes, Laura is one of the most gifted ball strikers I've ever seen, in my opinion by far the most naturally talented of the 3, and with the potential to be a top 5 player. When she's at her best she's almost unplayable. But that best tends to only last for a few games at a time, a set or a match.....as with against Vinci a few years back. And her tournament record suggests that the overall package hasn't been up to winning 5 matches in a row at every tournament level for her career to date, let alone 6 or 7 matches at Grand Slam level.

I really believe Laura COULD, arguably SHOULD be able to do it, but for various reasons probably won't. I believe Heather COULD do it, but only if she got lucky (just like Vinci - who hasn't had to play a seed until Serena and Ms Bouchard gave her a w/o after bashing her head in the locker room!). Johanna - those nerves seem to have been hugely improved, but 2 DFs on the only 2 BPs she faced against Kvitova suggest that there's still an issue, and a 6 match GS run would be a tough ask.

Nonetheless, whilst Vinci has got a little lucky (no luck yesterday though - what a match!), Flavia has been consistently excellent at the US Open for many years (how many QFs or better now?) and has been outstanding this time around all the way through. I'm massively rooting for Ms Pennetta.....but with nerves and the occasion, it's anybody's. Great for the big Italian NY population too!

DF · Tennis legend

Agree with your sentiments, CD

indiana · Tennis legend

Flavia Pennetta - 6 QFs or better in her last 7 US Opens ( 4 QFs, a SF and now into the final )

She missed the 2012 one so it's 6 in the last 8 actual stagings of the tournament. Thank you, korriban, I was absolutely unaware if it being anywhere near that until your post and I then looked it up.

Curiously, only one other time in the QFs at a Slam, getting to that stage of the 2012 Aussie Open.

Julia Carrot · All-time great

Grachka wrote:
Yup, here it is. I've followed Vinci for about a decade and never thought I'd see the day where she reached such heights. And she's a lovely woman to boot.

www.youtube.com/watch

Oh, I only just saw your reply and now they've removed the video (made it private anyway). Thanks anyway.

Ah, I've found it now. Great interview. Worth the search.

-- Edited by Julia Carrot on Saturday 12th of September 2015 06:56:56 PM

airsmashers · County player

Wow Flavia Pennetta wins the title and then announces her retirement.

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

All the best to her. She's getting married soon and has been clear in saying she'd like to start a family in the not too distant future so the best of luck in all her new ventures. Nice lady. Great tennis player. And so good to see such fun and friendship between her and Roberta Vinci.

Grachka · County player

I'm sad at the result as I've been a Vinci fan since her earliest pro years, but Pennetta deserved the win today. What a story from both - and both showed that tennis can be high-quality, heartwarming and engaging without on-court histrionics.