Flavia Pennetta clinched Italy's first ever appearance in a Fed Cup final when she overcame
Spain's Lourdes Dominguez 6-2 6-4 on Sunday July 16. "This is unbelievable because, in
the beginning, we didn't think we could make it to the final," said Pennetta. "It's an
incredible sensation to win the last point."
The 24-year-old showed her gutsy approach to the game when she faced Maria Sharapova
on Court Two at Wimbledon a couple of weeks before the Fed Cup semis. She went toe-to-toe with
the 2004 champion until the Russian took an extended toilet break before the deciding set and
returned to shriek and scream her way to victory. 2006 started well for Pennetta. In January,
she spoiled Martina Hingis' comeback tournament, beating her in the semi-finals of the Australian
Hardcourt Championships on the Gold Coast, only to lose to talented Czech teenager Lucie Safarova
in the final.
Pennetta's three career singles titles have all come on clay. A three-set victory over Klara
Koukalova in the 2004 Sopot final gave her her maiden title. Then came back-to-back titles in Bogota
and Acapulco in 2005.
She was introduced to tennis at the age of five by her father and grew up admiring nine-time Grand
Slam champion Monica Seles. She is coached by former ATP pro Gabriel Urpi. She enjoys horse racing
and listening to music.
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