By Richard Pagliaro | Friday, September 11, 2015
"(It means) everything," said 33-year-old Flavia Pennetta, who won 19 of the last 21 points routing second-seeded Simona Halep, 6-1, 6-3, to reach her first US Open final.
Photo credit: US Open/USTA
NEW YORK—Losing traction in baseline rallies, Simona Halep tried her luck luring Flavia Pennetta to net.
Racing forward, Pennetta answered the drop shot with a soft dropper slathered with so much spin the ball slid to a stop like a slinky.
On this day, nothing Halep threw at her could stop a streaking Pennetta from her long-awaited destination.
When Pennetta wasn't punishing with finesse, she was puzzling Halep with mesmerizing ball control.
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Playing assertive all-court tennis, Pennetta toyed with the world No. 2 at times reeling off 19 of the last 21 points in a 6-1, 6-3 US Open semifinal rout to roar into her first career Grand Slam final.
The 26th-seeded Pennetta will play 43rd-ranked compatriot Roberta Vinci in Saturday's first all-Italian Grand Slam final in history.
In an upset for the ages, the 43rd-ranked Vinci shocked Serena Williams, 2-6, 6-4, 6-4 denying the world No. 1's quest for the calendar Grand Slam. The 32-year-old Vinci, who had never won a set from Williams in four prior meetings, is the third unseeded woman in the Open Era to reach the US Open final.
"I tried to stay in every single point. At that end, when I served, It was like impossible but I try to stay focused," Vinci said. "I don't think about the match, about Serena's an incredible player. So I think the best moment of my life."
Facing a 1-3 second-set deficit, a focused Pennetta deconstructed Halep winning 15 straight points and five consecutive games in a commanding close.
The soaring level of play Pennetta produced during that streak was so impressive when she was done with the 59-minute thrashing Pennetta threw back her head and laughed in sheer joy and perhaps a little bit of disbelief.
On some level it must feel absurd.
At the age of 33, contesting her 49th Grand Slam tournament following first-round exits at Melbourne and Wimbledon earlier this year, Pennetta picked the perfect time to play her best tennis.
"(It means) everything," Pennetta told ESPN's Tom Rinaldi afterward. "It's amazing. Something I didn't think to be so far (in my career). It's amazing to be here. Today I think I played really well."
The second-ranked Romanian played with the labored disposition of a woman competing with a packed racquet bag strapped to her back. Burdened by pressure and looking physically and emotionally drained from her three-set quarterfinal conquest of Victoria Azarenka, a flat Halep surrendered five straight games to close both sets.
"She played her best tennis with me today. Maybe I let her to play her best tennis," Halep said. "I didn't put pressure on the game. But she was in a good shape and she felt the ball very well. She did good game, smart game."
Thursday's rain showers washed away much of the humidity. A murky sky, gusty wind and half-full stadium created unsettled conditions at the start. Pennetta showed court craft using the drop shot-lob play to save a break point holding for 2-1.
A former doubles world No. 1 and a 2014 US Open doubles runner-up with Martina Hingis, Pennetta put her all-court skills to good use.
Knowing engaging in too many running rallies with the quick-footed opponent 10 years her junior wasn't in her best interests, Pennetta varied the height of her shots and used the drop shot to draw Halep forward. When Halep netted a forehand, Pennetta gained the first break for 3-1. Driving her two-hander deep and crosscourt to open the court, Pennetta drew the running error for her second straight break stretching the lead to 5-1.
A listless Halep wasn't moving her feet as quickly as she did earlier in the tournament and when she tried to change direction up the line shots were expiring into the top of the net. Pennetta, whose two-hander is her best shot, wielded it wisely crosscourt largely neutering her opponent's inside-out forehand pattern. Slashing a backhand drive down the line, the Italian converted her third set point closing the opening set with her fifth straight game.
Misery mounted as Halep continued slapping shots into net dropping serve to start the second set. By then she'd sprayed 16 unforced errors and looked befuddled by some shoulder-high balls her opponent was sending into the corners.
Three adjustments helped Halep stop her six game slide.
She began to step into the court to take the high ball on the rise, she accepted her role as rally aggressor rather than content counterpuncher and she started showing a lot more positive emotions. Halep broke at love then unleashed winners down the line holding for a huge uppercut for 2-1—her first lead of the day. Losing the edge in longer rallies, Pennetta's level dipped as she dropped serve for the second straight time. She shrugged it off, angling a fine backhand volley and breaking back on her opponent's double fault.
Putting Halep on her back foot, Pennetta strung together 15 straight points in a spree that left Halep shaking her head in disbelief at times. Halep's running forehand failed her down the stretch. She needed to hit that shot higher over the net, play deeper down the middle and buy herself some recovery time. Instead, she tried to squeeze lower-percentage drives on the run, but frequently found the net instead.
"She was strong. She was solid today," Halep said. "Actually, I didn't play my best, but, you know, she deserved to win. She was better than me today. She had more energy. I can say she was better emotional than me."
Pennetta's skills aren't as forceful as a Serena first serve or a Sharapova screaming return. Her skill set is more subtle. She does everything well, but nothing exceptionally explosively.
Reading the game, recognizing her opponent's weakness, playing the score shrewdly and winning the battle of court positioning, Pennetta had the right answer for each test today. Pennetta, who had won three of four prior meetings with Halep, played tougher, smarter tennis and gave her opponent little to work with charging toward the finish line.
On her second match point, Pennetta pounded a forehand winner—her 23rd of the day—leaned back and laughed.
Many in the crowd smiled right back at her. After all, how many athletes come of age at age 33?
"It's really nothing changed. I just tried to play every match the best I can," Pennetta said. "Just play my match, try to be focused on what I have to do when I get on the court. So here I am. I'm really happy."