Flavia Pennetta dealt countrywoman, Italian Fed Cup teammate and good friend Sara Errani, a disappointing second round exit with a decisive 6-3, 6-1 win over the No. 4 seed, posting one of the biggest upsets on the women’s side of the draw so far. The athletic Pennetta served up seven aces in the match - including a well-placed, slice second serve – and averaged 103 mph on her first serve. She frustrated Errani by playing tough defense, chasing down every ball and giving her friend a taste of her own medicine with well-timed drop shots and searing winners down the line -- usually Errani’s specialty.
Errani had lots of problems with her serve, often having to repeatedly throw her toss after directing the ball behind her several times. Though both Italians are a few of the more vocal players on court, Pennetta played a quiet and poised hard-nosed match, letting her shot-making speak for itself. “We spend so much time together, it’s not easy to play your friend,” Pennetta said following the match.
“When you play one of your best friends, it’s not easy to [celebrate] and be really loud.” The 31-year-old Pennetta has a career 4-2 record over Errani and was a tough draw for the young Italian, who had a breakout tournament here last year when she made it the women’s singles semi-finals and won the doubles title with teammate Roberta Vinci.
She remains in the women’s doubles tournament with Vinci, where they are the No. 1 seed.
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