Sunday 13 September 2015 19:13, UK
Flavia Pennetta won the US Open with a straight sets victory over fellow Italian Roberta Vinci on Saturday night at Flushing Meadows before immediately retiring.
The world No 26, who previously had only ever been beyond the fourth round of a Grand Slam once, edged a tight opening set then built up a four-game lead in the second that the world No 43 couldn't catch to seal a 7-6 6-2 victory.
Pennetta used her post-match speech to announce she would call it a day after the biggest moment of her career.
Vinci had previously earned a shock win against Serena Williams in the semi-final but that turned out to be the highlight of her tournament after ending on the wrong end of the first ever all-Italian Grand Slam final in front of the country's Prime Minister Matteo Renzi.
The first set alone took longer than Pennetta's entire semi-final win over Simona Halep, as the two countrywomen who know each other's games so well predictably engaged in a neck-and-neck tussle.
The first four games nervily went along with the serve, with the New York crowd in an encouraging mood, until Pennetta scored the first break with her fourth break point to go 3-2 up.
Vinci's defence improved as the set wore on and, by the end, momentum swung in her favour. A pair of winners cancelled out Pennetta's break advantage and, as the rest of the set went with serve, a tie-break was forced.
Pennetta, a year senior to her opponent at 33, opened up a pair of set points and her unreturnable serve put her on the scoreboard first.
She burst into the second set as she finished the previous one, holding her first serve despite conceding a magnificently stylish drop shot that even she had to applaud before making it 2-0 as Pennetta pinned Vinci behind the base-line to break her serve.
Vinci had break point but when she failed to claim it, the writing appeared to be on the wall. She almost apologetically stroked a shot into the net to give away a second break, and a four-game lead, in the subsequent game.
With Vinci's mobility lacking after the rigours of beating Williams, her will never showed signs of cracking and she forced break point in the next game - but blew another chance with a stray volley. Two points later, Vinci's smash earned a break and a similar volley helped her to take the next game too.
But that was as good as it got - Pennetta edged the next game to hold her serve and whipped a forehand winner that brought her the championship.
She becomes only the second player ranked outside of the top 10, after Kim Clijsters, to win the US Open.
It's what all the players think they want to do. Going out after this kind of big trophy.
"Before I started this tournament , one month ago, I took a big decision in my life," Pennetta said.
"This is the way I would like to say goodbye to tennis. It's what all the players think they want to do. Going out after this kind of big trophy.
"This was my last match and I can't think of a better way."
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