Pennetta wins The BNP Paribas Open

Written by: Bob Larson Tennis on 17th March 2014

Pennetta wins The BNP Paribas Open

epa04129103 Flavia Pennetta of Italy poses with her trophy after defeating Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland during their women's final match at the BNP Paribas Open tennis in Indian Wells, California, USA, 16 March 2014. EPA/JOHN G. MABANGLO |

Flavia Pennetta’s title victory in the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells means she is close to breaking back into the top ten of WTA after a five year absence at the age of 32.

But a year ago the Italian from Brindisi revealed she was close to retiring from the sport. She had undergone wrist surgery in August 2012 and her ranking had dropped out of the world’s top 150.

Persevence has most certainly paid off and Pennetta benefited from the biggest pay day of her career, taking the check for $1 million after scoring a 6-2, 6-1 over the injured Agnieszka Radwanska.

“After so many years, so much work and everything, this is the moment I always waited for,” said Pennetta who became the third-oldest winner of the desert tournament after two triumphs by Martina Navratilova, who won in 1990 and again a year later, aged at age 33 and 34. “And it’s coming when you don’t expect. It was something I was waiting since long time, and finally I have a good trophy in my hands.

“I’m surprised. In the beginning of the week if you told me, ‘You’re going to make the final here,’ I would have said, ‘Mmmm, I don’t think so!’ So I’m really happy. I’m happy with my game.”

Pennetta had not won a singles title since lifting the trophy at Marbella in 2010 and she followed fellow 32 year-olds Serena Williams (US Open an WTA Championships) and Li Na (Australian Open) as the winners of tennis most recent big tournaments, proving the sport is most definitely not the domain of the youngsters it was not so many years ago.

As the 20th seed, Pennetta became the lowest seed to win the title. She came in ranked 21st and is projected to rise to No. 12 in the world Monday in the WTA Tour rankings. She beat top-seeded Li Na in the semifinals on her way to winning the title worth $1 million. “”I need a few days to realize,” she said of her accomplishment. “”Last year I just say, Okay, if I finish the year Top 100 it will be okay.”

Topics: 10sballs, Agnieszka Radwanska, BNP Paribas Open, Flavia Pennetta, Indian Wells, Li Na, Serena Williams, Sports, Tennis, Tennis News, Wta

Follow 10SBALLS.COM on:

Facebook:

Twitter:

10sBalls_com says:

March 17, 2014 at 10:06 am

Pennetta wins The BNP Paribas Open – http://t.co/HTK7bj0Pmu @flavia_pennetta @BNPPARIBASOPEN #IndianWells #Champion #Tennis