NEW YORK – Italian veteran Flavia Pennetta has continued her giantkilling run to reach her maiden grand slam final at the US Open in New York.
Pennetta blasted past Romanian second seed Simona Halep 6-1 6-3 in just 59 minutes in yesterday’s first semi-final at Flushing Meadows.
The 33-year-old will play for the title on Saturday against either top-ranked defending champion Serena Williams or fellow Italian Roberta Vinci, the world No.43.
Pennetta has a 0-7 career record against Williams but leads her compatriot 5-4 in their all-time rivalry.
Putting Samantha Stosur’s fourth-round loss to the Italian in perspective, Pennetta crunched 23 winners to Halep’s six and won 19 of the last 21 points of the match after falling behind 3-1 in the second set.
Apart from taking out Australia’s 2011 champion, Pennetta upset two-time Wimbledon winner and fifth seed Petra Kvitova in her sixth quarter-final in New York.
The 26th seed is the lowest-ranked women’s finalist since Williams lost to Stosur four years ago.
Contesting her 49th career major, no women in professional tennis history has had to wait as long to land a grand slam singles crown.
Pennetta said it meant “everything” to finally make a grand slam final.
“I didn’t expect to make it this far,” she said.
“I just try to play my best every match. I’m taking it match by match.
“I’m playing very well and it’s amazing to be here.”
