Flavia Pennetta wins US Open

In Saturday's surprise final for the US Open women's championship, two veteran Italians went head to head. No. 26 seed Flavia Pennetta beat Roberta Vinci 7-6 (4), 6-2. Vinci had created the upset of the championships a day before by beating world number one Serena Williams.

"This is the way I would like to say goodbye to tennis," Pennetta said. "I'm really happy. It's what all the players seem to want to do, to go out with this big trophy."

The first set was a close fought duel which went to a tie-break which Pennetta won 7-4. She then moved quickly to a 4-0 lead in the second set. Vinci looked to steady but Pennetta broke again to take the match 6-2.

"Maybe that is why I am here today," Pennetta said as she announced her retirement after the match. "I was trying to play every match like it was my last one. Trying to play best all the time."

"And so this one was my last match at the US Open and I couldn't think to finish a better way," Pennetta concluded.

For Vinci, it was one match too far. After the stunning win against Serena Williams in Friday's rain-delayed semi-final, the 32-year-old Italian found herself in a championship match against friend and former doubles partner Pennetta who she first played when she was 9 years old. Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi had flown over to watch the final.

Home town favorites

Big video screens were set up in the women's home towns of Brindisi and Taranto in the Puglia region of Italy. Fed Cup captain Corrado Barazzutti said: "The fresher player won."

"It was tough to come back in less than 24 hours," Vinci said. "I was tired, but I lost in the final. I'm really happy and really happy for Flavia. It's tough to play against someone you know for a long time. I tried my best ..... but she played better."

Many had anticipated a final with Serena Williams in it and tickets were much sought after with a view to watching the American become the first player since Steffi Graf in 1988 to win all four tennis Grand Slam events in one calendar year.

According to ticket aggregator SeatGeek, the median price for tickets to the final on the secondary market had risen to more than $1,500 (1,323 euros) when Williams reached the semi-final. Prices fell below $500 following her loss on Friday.

In the other final on Saturday, French 12th seeds Pierre-Hugues Herbert and Nicolas Mahut beat 8th seeds Britain's Jamie Murray and Australian John Peers 6-4 6-4 in the men's doubles.

In Sunday's men's final, world number one Novak Djokovic plays Roger Federer.

jm/bw (dpa, Reuters)