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Just a day back, the sports world was waiting eagerly for the World No. 1 Serena Williams to go one step closer to becoming just the fourth woman ever to complete the coveted Calendar Year Grand Slam. But an insanely brilliant display by Italy’s 43rd ranked Roberta Vinci stunned everybody! Serena’s bid has fallen short but it, in no way, dims her shining greatness and she will be motivated to come back for more glory next year. Misfortune befell the World No. 2 Simona Halep too who would not be able to eye Slam glory in New York as she was consumed by the fiery and determined 26th seeded Italian Flavia Pennetta.
The upsets thus leave two dedicated, persevering veterans on the brink of fulfilling their life’s biggest ambition as a tennis player – becoming a singles Grand Slam champion! Who between these two feisty Italians look plausible as the champion? We analyse:
(26) Flavia Pennetta v Roberta Vinci
Head-to-head: Pennetta leads 5-4
When the 33-year-old Flavia Pennetta meets her Fed Cup teammate, the 32-year-old Roberta Vinci across the net in their maiden singles Slam final on Saturday, it will be a validation of their unflinching resolve to carry on despite being in the twilight of their careers. There will also be a slice of history for their country with this being the first all-Italian women's final at a major in the Open Era.
They know each other too well. From winning the Junior Girls’ Doubles crown at the 1999 French Open to shouldering the responsibility of carrying their nation to Fed Cup glory four times, they have been the biggest friends and confidantes. They have both hovered around the top 10 in singles with Flavia finally reaching the 10th place in 2009 while Vinci being as high as 11th in 2013.
There is a familiar pattern in their doubles careers too – both rose to the pinnacle of the rankings and both won major title. While Vinci obviously had the lion’s share of fortune in doubles, having captured a Career Slam with her long-time former partner and compatriot Sara Errani, Pennetta grabbed the Australian Open crown with Gisela Dulko back in 2011.
And that gives a clear example that performing on the big stage is something both these women are familiar with. While Pennetta is the one adept at defense and angular backhands, Roberta’s style is more mixing it up with backhand slices and volleys.
It will all boil down to who can enjoy the opportunity more without thinking about the outcome. Another big factor that can play a role in the ultimate result is how fatigued both will feel during the final. For Roberta Vinci, her massive effort in upsetting Serena in three sets in front of the American's home crowd at the US Open semi-finals would leave her emotionally drained out. Vinci later on admitted “It’s the best moment of my life” and which, without a doubt, underlines how much she had to pull out from her reserves to play the best match of her life.
Would she have anything left in her legs just 24 hours later on Saturday? With Pennetta being in the final, a lot of legwork is required as Flavia will relentlessly work the angles and make her opponent run from side to side. Pennetta has won their last two meetings in straight sets, including a quarter-final at Flushing Meadows two years back. Having reached at least six quarter-finals in her last seven appearances at New York, Pennetta would not like to give up a golden chance of winning the title at the tournament where she produces her best every year.
Prediction: Pennetta in straight sets
