MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2015 S P O R T S Pennetta wins US Open, then retires NEW YORK: Flavia Pennetta won her first grand calendar year Grand Slam. Pennetta’s path to slam singles title over Roberta Vinci in an the final included two huge hurdles which she improbable all-Italian US Open final on cleared with confidence, taking down Czech Saturday then added one more shock to a stun- fifth seed Petra Kvitova in the quarter-finals and ning fortnight by announcing her retirement. Romanian second seed Simona Halep in the With the 7-6(4) 6-2 win, the 33-year-old semi-finals. Pennetta becomes the fourth oldest grand slam “Miracles can happen. Because I beat Serena, winner in the Open Era and joins 2010 French miracle,” said Vinci. “And then two Italians can Open champion Francesca Schiavone as the reach the Grand Slam final, a miracle.” only Italian women to win a major singles title. While the all-Italian final was greeted by a But as the celebrations kicked into high gear, big yawn in the Big Apple, Italy was gripped in Pennetta dropped a bombshell that provided a tennis hysteria as the sport made front page dramatic finish to the year’s final grand slam headlines and convinced Renzi to drop his busy and her career. After embracing childhood schedule and fly to New York. Since Williams’s friend and Fed Cup team mate Vinci at the net a triumph at Wimbledon in July, the buildup to smiling Pennetta stood at center court during the U.S. Open had focused almost entirely on the trophy presentation and told a capacity the American’s bid to become just the fourth crowd at Arthur Ashe Stadium that included woman and first since 1988 to complete the cal- Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi that she endar slam. would retire. Her surprise semi-final exit took much of the “This is the way I would like to say goodbye buzz out of the tournament and triggered an to tennis,” she said before hoisting the trophy immediate collapse in ticket prices for the and accepting the $3.3 million winner’s check. women’s final. According to ticket aggregator “I’m really happy. It’s what all the players seem SeatGeek, the median price for tickets to the to want to do, to go out with this big trophy. final on the secondary market had risen to more “And so this one was my last match at the US than $1,500 when Williams reached the semi- Open and I couldn’t think to finish a better way.” final but plunged below $500 following her loss Pennetta’s surprise announcement provided a on Friday. jaw-dropping finish to a grand slam packed The match between best friends and former with surprises. She said it was a decision she doubles partners who first played each other made a month ago when a grand slam triumph when they were nine years old got off to a pre- would have seemed improbable and suggested dictably cautious start for two players compet- fate may have played a part in her grand slam ing in their first grand slam final. goodbye. “Maybe that is why I am here today,” Showing signs of nerves, Pennetta and Vinci Pennetta said while embracing the trophy. “I seemed content to battle from the baseline, was trying to play every match like it was my trading early breaks as the first set went to last one. Trying to play best all the time. tiebreak. After winning the tiebreak and sensing “For me it is easy to practice and stay in this the title was within her grasp, Pennetta broke life but sometimes it is hard to compete. “It will Vinci at the first opportunity en route to 4-0 lead be a new life for me, I played tennis since I was before clinching the match with a final service young.” break. “We spent so much time together, we BREATHTAKING UPSETS moved to Rome together when we were 13-, The unlikely final was set up by breathtaking 14-years-old and stayed in the same room for upsets as unseeded Vinci knocked off world four years,” said Pennetta. “It is like a sister, it is so number one Serena Williams in the semi-finals magical you have one of your best friends with NEW YORK: Flavia Pennetta, of Italy (right) and Roberta Vinci, of Italy pose with their trophies after Pennetta won their to end the 33-year-old American’s quest for a you in this moment.” —Reuters women’s championship match of the US Open tennis tournament. — AP (W al fin High stakes in Djokovic, b Federer final shootout It’ ne NEW YORK: It will be number one versus gles and will be playing in his sixth Flushing m number two in the U.S. Open men’s final on Meadows final. But Djokovic has won just one Sunday, a seismic grand slam title match US title (2011) from his five previous finals and fo between Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer the pressure is mounting to cash in on oppor- m that transcends the world rankings. Both play- tunity. “I came here with a wish and a mission, ers burn with heaps of motivation to hoist the to reach the finals and fight for the trophy,” co winner’s trophy at Arthur Ashe Stadium in the said Djokovic. “So I got myself in that position. er last grand moment of the 2015 slam season. It’s already a great result. But I want to get that th Second seed Federer, who won five con- final step on Sunday and get my hands on secutive U.S. Open titles from 2004 and was that trophy.” runner-up in 2009, reigns on top of the all- Their personal series further promotes the time list for grand slam titles with 17. likelihood of a pitched battle at Arthur Ashe At the advanced age of 34 the Swiss is Stadium, with Federer’s victory over Djokovic playing great and glowing with a desire to win in the final of last month’s Cincinnati hard- his first grand slam title since his triumph at court tune-up to the U.S. Open edging him Wimbledon in 2012. ahead in their series. But Federer has a deeper Djokovic has ascended to the clear num- wound to avenge, having lost in the 2015 ber one, but is not number one in the hearts Wimbledon final to the Serb. of the New York fans. That distinction rests “I didn’t quite agree that I played a poor with the Swiss, who is still the darling of finals,” he said about their clash at the All Flushing Meadows, while the Serb longs to be England Club. “I think I played OK in the finals,” loved. he insisted. “I just think Novak played a really The 28-year-old Djokovic is gunning for his good finals. He was super tough and he third grand slam title of the year, which would deserved it at the end.” replicate the dominance of his 2011 season. The Swiss has not lost a set in his march to Both players have had brilliant years. a seventh U.S. final and his pointedly aggres- Djokovic has compiled a 56-5 season with six sive approach has served to shorten points titles. Federer is 45-7 and won five times. Their and keep the veteran fresh. career head-to-head is 21-20 in Federer’s Federer has even mixed in a “sneak attack,” favor. wherein he occasionally comes up uncomfort- LAS VEGAS: Andre Berto (right) punches Floyd Mayweather Jr. during their welterweight title fight Saturday. Mayweather, who won the fight, Djokovic, the reigning Australian Open and ably close on a second serve to put his oppo- ran his perfect record to 49-0, tying a mark set by the late heavyweight champion Rocky Marciano. —AP Wimbledon champion, has won nine slam sin- nent under immediate pressure. —Reuters Mayweather beats Berto Hingis, Mirza win US Open doubles title in farewell fight, ends 49-0 NEW YORK: Wimbledon champions Martina won her only prior Slam women’s doubles title Hingis and Sania Mirza captured their second con- with world doubles number two Hingis in July at LAS VEGAS: Floyd Mayweather Jr. cemented his of space and agile movement about the ring to fin- was the better man tonight.” Asked if he might be secutive Grand Slam women’s doubles crown yes- the All England Club. place among the pantheon of boxing greats with a ish well ahead on all three judges’ scorecards. tempted to come back for a 50th fight, terday, defeating Casey Dellacqua and Yaroslava Australia’s Dellacqua, 30, had been seeking her unanimous decision over fellow American Andre Berto, a 30-1 underdog against one of the best Mayweather replied: “My career is over. It’s official. Shvedova 6-3, 6-3 in the US Open final. India’s first Grand Slam doubles crown but settles for a Berto on Saturday in what he has repeatedly said defensive fighters of all time, dropped to 30-4 as he I’m financially secure and I’m in good health. Mirza and Swiss veteran Hingis did not drop a set sixth runner-up showing, including the 2013 US would be the final fight of his career. suffered his fourth loss in his last seven fights. “You’ve got to know when it’s time to hang it in becoming the first top-seeded duo to win the and Australian Opens and Wimbledon plus the Mayweather, 38, easily outboxed his younger “Andre Berto has heart, a tremendous chin, he up, so I think it’s about time for me to hang it up.