LiveUS Open women's singles final

Summary

  1. Flavia Pennetta beats Roberta Vinci in the all-Italian women's singles final
  2. Pennetta records a 7-6 (7-4) 6-2 victory
  3. Britain's Jamie Murray and Australia's John Peers lose men's doubles final
  4. France's Pierre-Hugues Herbert and Nicolas Mahut win 6-4 6-4

Live Reporting

By Jonathan Jurejko

All times stated are UK

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AP

While Flavia Pennetta is likely to celebrate her maiden Grand Slam win long into the New York night, it is time for us to say goodbye. Until tomorrow that is. When two fellas going by the names of Federer and Djokovic are aiming to win the men's singles title. However, unlike Pennetta, they are far from stepping into unknown territory. Join us tomorrow for that. Ciao!

Pennetta clarifies retirement plans

Our man in New York, Piers Newbery, has just been listening to what Flavia Pennetta had to say in her post-match news conference at Flushing Meadows. Of particular interest to the waiting journalists was the lowdown on the retirement plans which she announced seconds after winning her first Grand Slam title.

Now Pennetta has confirmed she is not packing in straight away, but playing on - as we suspected she meant - until the end of the year.

Whiley in wheelchair final

While Flavia Pennetta celebrates her win tonight, Britain's Jordanne Whiley is hoping to match her achievement in the wheelchair event tomorrow.

Whiley, 23, reached her first Grand Slam final earlier with victory over Aniek Van Koot at Flushing Meadows.

She earned a 6-7 (1-7) 6-4 6-3 triumph over the Dutch second seed, and will now play her doubles partner Yui Kamiji in Sunday's final.

Pennetta stats

Vinci 6-7 (4-7) 2-6 Pennetta

  • Oldest first-time Grand Slam winner in the Open Era, aged 33 years and six months
  • Fourth oldest Grand Slam champion of the Open Era
  • Second Italian woman to win Slam title after Francesca Schiavone at 2010 Roland Garros

you will be missed beyond words bella @flavia_pennetta ❤️ happy retirement!

Flavi with the best mic drop of all time! So well deserved. Happy happy retirement @flavia_pennetta #champ

OMG Flavia did not just say that she finishes her career NOW!?!?? @flavia_pennetta #noooo

Player reaction

Vinci 6-7 (4-7) 2-6 Pennetta

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Flavia Pennetta on her future: "Before I started this tournament one month ago, I decided that this is the way I would say goodbye to tennis. This is my last and I couldn't think of finishing in a better way."

Player reaction

Vinci 6-7 (4-7) 2-6 Pennetta

2015 US Open champion Flavia Pennetta on her straight-sets victory: "I'm really happy. I never thought I would get so far, I never though I would be a champion. This is one of my favourite tournaments, I enjoy playing here. I really appreciate what my team did for me. It's a dream come true, and it's also nice to play with a friend of mine - we have known each other since we were really young, we spend so much time together we could write a book about my life."

Vinci 6-7 (4-7) 2-6 Pennetta

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Pennetta is close to tears as she takes the acclaim inside Ashe - not least because Vinci nabs the winner's cheque from her grasp. Pennetta's prize money of $3.3m is almost a third of her previous combined career earnings. Sure she will get it back from her childhood friend. Perhaps at the expense of a swanky meal in Manhattan later.

Vinci 6-7 (4-7) 2-6 Pennetta

Oh my word! Flavio Pennetta drops a bombshell that we weren't expecting - the 33-year-old champion announces in her post-match interview that she plans to retire. Talk about going out on a high!

Player reaction

Vinci 6-7 (4-7) 2-6 Pennetta

Losing finalist Roberta Vinci: "Grazie! It was tough, I passed the 24 hours with a lot of things on my mind. But I am really happy and really happy for Flavia. It's tough to play against a player who you have known for a long time. I tried to play my best, but Flavia played unbelievable and I have to say congrats to her."

Vinci 6-7 (4-7) 2-6 Pennetta

The charismatic, and ever-smiling, Vinci wowed the Flushing Meadows crowd with her on-court interview after beating Serena yesterday - and she is back on the charm offensive today. She urges them to support her again next year, which the fans lap up, then she thanks the Italian Prime Minister for flying over to New York for the occasion.

Vinci 6-7 (4-7) 2-6 Pennetta

More warming scenes in Ashe that are actually bordering on the extraordinary. The two finalists sit side-by-side on court, grinning and joking together like they would be while sipping an espresso together in a rustic Apulia coffee shop. Great to see.

Vinci 6-7 (4-7) 2-6 Pennetta

Reuters

Warming scenes as the Italian comrades lovingly embrace at the net, before Pennetta sprints over to her box to celebrate her maiden Grand Slam title. At the age of 32 remember - she's the oldest first-time Slam champion. Don't give up on your dreams folks.

Jill Craybas

Former WTA Tour professional

"Pennetta played solid and aggressive. She got her nerves settled and finished really strong."

Vinci 6-7 (4-7) 2-6 Pennetta

Apparently Flavio Pennetta's boyfriend Fabio Fognini legged it out of the Arthur Ashe Stadium just before that deciding game. What a time to need the gents. Perhaps the nerves got to him. Luckily he appears to have nipped back in time to see the winning point, a thumping forehand winner to clinch the game - and title - in style with a break to love.

Game, set and match

Vinci 6-7 (4-7) 2-6 Pennetta

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All over! Flavia Pennetta raises both hands to the New York sky after she hunts down Roberta Vinci's serve to break again. And this time that break of serve means Pennetta is the new US Open champion!

*Vinci 6-7 (4-7) 2-5 Pennetta

Pennetta clenches her raised fist and chunters something in Italian - and possibly something you wouldn't say to your mother - when Vinci misses the target to put Pennetta 40-30 ahead. Pennetta then has her old friend scrabbling with a lob shot that she can't return - cue more Pennetta celebrations. Now she is one game away from the US Open title....

Jeff Tarango

Former professional tennis player on BBC Radio 5 live

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"It's crunchtime for Flavia Pennetta. If she wants the US Open, she has to take control in this game. She looks so nervous she can't even see straight."

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