Name: Flavia Pennetta
DOB: February 25, 1982
Country: Italy
Place of Birth: Brindisi, Italy
Residence: Verbier, Switzerland
Height: 5' 7.5
Turn Pro: 2000
Plays: Right-handed, two-handed backhand
Racquet: Wilson K Factor KBlade 98 Racquet
Flavia Pennetta is an Italian professional tennis player, born in Brindisi, Puglia on February 25, 1982. Throughout her career, she has won a total of six Women’s Tennis Association’s singles titles – all on clay courts, minus one title. She has also managed to take two titles in the year 2005, the Bogota and Acapulco, one after the other. In 2004, Pennetta finally won her maiden title at Sopot against Czech player Klara Koukalova. The match ended in victory after three sets. Her tennis career continued to grow as she participated in the 2006 Fed Cup, where she and her fellow countrymen Roberta Vinci, Mara Santangelo, and Francesca Schiavone defeated the Belgian player 302 in the final. However, it should be noted that a key player, Justine Henin-Hardenne, did not play in the final match due to a knee injury, facilitating Italy’s chances at winning its first Fed Cup title.
Pennetta has had some notable victories against big shot names – including multiple Grand Slam winners and formerly ranked number one players. Specifically, she defeated Justine Henin at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix of 2005, Martine Hingis at the 2006 Gold Coast, and even Venus Williams in a match that led to her fourth WTA Tour title at the 2007 PTT Bangkok Open. At the 2008 French Open, Pennetta defeated Venus Williams once again in the third round. She won 7-5, 6-3 in a series of straight sets. Unfortunately, Pennetta lost thereafter to Spanish player Carla Suarez Navarro 6-3, 6-2 in the next round, thus losing her chance at the title.
Pennetta has also taken on the doubles category – she partnered up with close friend Elena Dementieva for the 2005 U. S. Open, where they reached the final round. On a more personal note, Pennetta once dated Carlos Moya, but separated soon after the 2007 Wimbledon.