TENNIS US OPEN – Flavia Pennetta has overcome Casey Dellacqua in straight sets to capture her fifth quarter-finals’ appearance at the US Open with a 7-5 6-2 score.
Both players appeared very nervous throughout the first set, so the score reflected this with several breaks for both sides. Pennetta found a better solidity at the end of the set and this opened a gap between the two players, with the Italian winning seven consecutive games.
Dellacqua tried a mild reaction, helped by a small gap in the 11th’s seed focus, but the margin was secure enough for Pennetta to close.
The two players had met only once before and it was many years ago in Bangkok, when Pennetta had won in three difficult sets.
It seemed as if such a scenario could be repeated, only because the tension and the difficult humid conditions affected the level of game from both players, who had a lot of problems to play many good points in a row.
Twice the Italian led the set and seemed to be able to run away, but a shaky serve and several unforced errors always let the Australian come back.
The 29th seed found a good moment to go 5-4 up and pushed Pennetta against the wall on her service game by going 30-15, but the Italian upped her game right in time to force many errors from the other side.
After taking the first set 7-5, last year’s semi-finalist found the calm she needed to execute her game and thanks to great backhands and some lovely drops, she flew to 4-0.
Pennetta had some chances to close the match earlier, but a few errors kept the Australian alive. In the end, with a flawless service game, the Italian secured her ticket to the last eight of a slam for the second time this year.
The Italian will wait for the winner of the match between Serena Williams and Kaia Kanepi.
