Flavia Pennetta produced an excellent display to shock Venus Williams and secure herself a place in the final of the Bangkok Open.
Italian holds nerve to claim major scalp
Flavia Pennetta produced an excellent display to shock Venus Williams and secure herself a place in the final of the Bangkok Open.
The Italian seventh seed saw off a determined second set fight-back by the American to record a memorable 6-4 7-6 triumph.
Pennetta refused to be intimidated by Williams' power and indeed traded heavy groundstrokes with her opponent.
With her serve working impressively also, the Italian gained the upper hand as she broke Williams at 5-4 to take the opening set.
She then looked to have opened up a decisive advantage in the second as she broke at 2-2 and held serve to move 4-2 ahead.
However, Williams refused to be bowed and responded in commendable style as she broke back and forced herself 6-5 ahead.
Pennetta held her nerve to force a tie-break and then hung in to eventually emerge victorious 10-8, punching the air with delight as she finally wrapped up the win.
"That was one of the most beautiful wins of my career," she stated afterwards.
"When she came back, I started to think I'd lost my chance to win. I knew it would be a tough match. I was a little nervous but I played good tennis.
"I was against such a great player. I just had to go for it, because anything can happen."
A disappointed Williams, who was bidding to make her third straight final, declared: "She played really well, she was eager.
"I made a lot of errors, a lot of mistakes. She did a good job of staying in the match.
"I wasn't surprised by her, she's capable of playing well."
Pennetta now faces Chan Yung-jan after the Taiwanese player won her semi-final against China's Yan Zi 7-5 3-6 7-5.
