Pennetta wins Cachantun Cup
18/02/2008 12:18 PM
Top seed Flavia Pennetta captured her fifth career title on Sunday when eighth-seeded Klara Zakopalova retired while trailing 6-4 5-4 in the final of the Cachantun Cup.
World No.33 Pennetta did not drop a set in her five matches, losing just 24 games over that stretch. The Italian converted 65 per cent of her first serves, including two aces, to claim the crown.
"It always feels better to play the last point and have the sensation of winning, but injuries happen," Pennetta said.
"It was an incredible week for me. I felt really comfortable in Vina del Mar. Thanks to the men's tournament, I think they really knew what the players wanted this week."
The victory at this Tier III tournament represents Pennetta's first title since Bangkok in 2007 and her fourth career win in five tries against Zakopalova. It was Pennetta's first win against the Prague native since 2004 in Sopot.
Pennetta avenged her only defeat to Zakopalova - a straight-sets loss in the pair's most recent meeting in 2005 in the Palermo semis.
Zakopalova fell to 2-7 lifetime in tour singles finals. In her previous final, she won at Portoroz in 2005.
"I was very happy to make it to the final this week," Zakopalova said. "Flavia deserved to win; she was playing better than me."
"I'm not really sure how I fell. I think I was expecting a forehand and was running towards it, but then she hit a backhand and I had to change directions, and I slipped and fell."