Wednesday, April 7, 2010

Flavia Pennetta

Flavia Pennetta (born 25 February 1982 in Brindisi, Puglia) is an Italian professional tennis player. She became Italy's first top 10 female player on 17 August 2009. As of May 10, 2010, Pennetta is ranked World No. 16. She is also ranked World No. 12 in doubles.

Pennetta has won nine career WTA singles titles, including back-to-back titles in Bogotá and Acapulco in 2005. She and her Italian teammates Mara Santangelo, Francesca Schiavone, and Roberta Vinci beat the Belgium team 3–2 in the 2006 Fed Cup final. Justine Henin had to retire in the fifth and final match due to an injury in her right knee, which let Italy win their first Fed Cup trophy. She was also a member of their winning team in 2009, when they beat the United States in the final.

Pennetta has defeated multiple Grand Slam singles champions such as Justine Henin, Mary Pierce, Martina Hingis, Amélie Mauresmo, Venus Williams, Maria Sharapova, and former World No. 1 Jelena Janković. Pennetta is also one of only seven women to beat Williams three consecutive times. In doubles, she reached the 2005 US Open final with her partner Elena Dementieva.

Pennetta was pronounced a Knight of Order of Merit of the Republic on 24 January 2007 by the President of Italy.





Personal information
Country : Italy
Residence : Verbier, Switzerland
Date of birth : 25 February 1982 (1982-02-25)
Place of birth : Brindisi, Italy
Height : 1.72 m (5 ft 7+1⁄2 in)
Weight : 58 kg (130 lb; 9.1 st)
Turned pro : February 25, 2000
Plays : Right (two-handed backhand)
Career prize money : $3,295,816

Singles
Career record : 392—247
Career titles : 9 WTA, 7 ITF
Highest ranking : No. 10 (17 August 2009)
Current ranking : No. 15 (17 May 2010)

Grand Slam results
Australian Open : 3R (2006, 2009)
French Open: 4R (2008)
Wimbledon : 4R (2005, 2006)
US Open : QF (2008, 2009)

Doubles
Career record : 215—154
Career titles : 9 WTA, 9 ITF
Highest ranking : No. 12 (10 May 2010)
Australian Open : QF (2008, 2010)
French Open : 3R (2009)
Wimbledon : 3R (2006)
US Open : F (2005)