VIÑA DEL MAR, Chile - The last time she blogged, Flavia Pennetta was searching for her form after a wrist injury had put her out of action for several months towards the end of 2006. Writing to us from Barcelona last June, she hoped for some more matches to build her ranking back up; now, after an incredible second half to 2007, the Italian seeks her first title of the season at the inaugural Cachantun Cup in the Viña del Mar and brings us all along for the ride in the latest Sony Ericsson WTA Tour Player Blog.
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Sunday, February 17, 2008
What can I say, I'm just very happy! When I started the match today I was very nervous because I hadn't played her in a while, but then I calmed down and was playing very well. The end wasn't great for either of us - for obvious reasons for her but for me too, because it's always nice to win the last point for the title. But I just hope Klara makes a quick recovery from her injury. The court was pretty slippery today for some reason, I'm not sure why.
I'm really happy about my week. When I came here I didn't think I'd be playing in the final or winning the tournament. It's my fifth title, and a great start for the next few weeks. Tomorrow I leave for Bogota, which will be a tough one because of the altitude but it's like that for everyone. But tonight it's time for celebration - I'm sure the tournament has something planned for us! I'd also like to dedicate this title to my friend Cristina, who is back home in Italy. It's her birthday today and hopefully this is a good present for her - happy birthday Cristina :)
I've had a great time doing the blog this week and I hope you all enjoyed it too... I'll talk to you all again soon!
Flavia
If you could win either Rome or Roland Garros, which one would it be? - Andrea, Italy
Wow... how could you guys do this to me! Rome would be incredible because it's in Italy and everybody there would go crazy if I won; Roland Garros is a Grand Slam. If I really HAD to choose, I'd probably have to go with... Roland Garros. But they're both very important to me!
Do you ski when you're living in Switzerland? - Sophie, Switzerland
No - I never go skiing! My father gets very nervous when I do dangerous things like that, so no skiing for me, no horse riding... nothing! I went skiing when I was younger but I haven't been since. And if something bad happens at skiing you'll lose a lot of time trying to heal! So maybe when I'm done tennis :)
Do you plan on coming back to Viña del Mar next year? - Roberto, Chile
Yes - for sure. If they want me here!
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Saturday, February 16, 2008
Hello again everyone!
As you get deeper into the tournament, it's important not to spend too much energy outside of your matches. So I haven't been doing that much - like last night after the match, my coach and I went to a nearby Argentine restaurant for dinner, then I went back to the hotel and watched some TV before I went to bed. It was especially important today, because after a few night matches in a row I had an afternoon one and wanted to be fresh for it. And everything was working well today. I had a good win over Parmentier and now it's about 5pm and my day is finished already. We will probably go to the beach later and have a swim... the water is cold and it's tough to go in at first but after you're in it's good for your body. I'll probably get a massage at some point today too. And that's about it. The final is at 3pm tomorrow, so I won't really do anything else tonight! I just want to relax. Maybe I'll go to the hotel and call my friends at some point too.
It's going to be a tough match against Zakopalova - she has been playing well this week and it's always tough to beat her. She has been in so many finals so she will have as much experience as me as well. I just want to enjoy this moment because it is not every day you get to play the final of a tournament. But I feel my forehand, backhand and serve are all working well, so hopefully I can keep playing like this.
What do you usually do before a match? - Michele, Italy
I'm not superstitious, but I do keep a similar routine before all of my matches. I wake up, have breakfast, go to the courts and do my physical warm-up and my tennis warm-up with my coach. Then some lunch and play my match. That's it!
How long have you had your tattoo and did it hurt? - Craig, Australia
I actually have three tattoos! I got the first one when I was 16 in Rome - it's on my back. It's three flowers. They gave me and Roberta Vinci a wildcard for the doubles and I told her if we won our match and got to the quarterfinals I'd get it, and we did win... so I had to get it! It hurt a lot - the guy was working on me for about 45 minutes. It was very painful. But the second and third tattoos, which are on my wrist and stomach, didn't hurt as much.
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Friday, February 15, 2008
I have to tell you about last night... Sometimes when you play the night match it's hard to get to sleep afterwards, but last night was ridiculous. I went to the hotel afterwards and realized I wasn't that tired, so I went out to find a restaurant to eat at. Nowhere would take me, and it was 11:30! They all had reservations and line-ups - I guess for Valentine's Day - and so I went to the hotel again. All these people in love >:( So I ordered room service. Maria Elena was still awake packing, as she had to leave at 5am today. We talked for a little while but then she went to sleep and I was still awake. 1am, no sleep. 2am, no sleep. I switched the TV and internet on and off all night long trying to find something to watch or do! I almost went out again but figured it was a bit too late. Around 3:30, I finally started falling asleep... but then I woke up to Camerin leaving and couldn't sleep again! So I decided to call my travel agent to change my flight time from Viña del Mar... but then around 5:30 I was asleep again, until about 9. It wasn't much sleep, but after practice I took a siesta for about two hours. So in the end I think I got all the sleep I needed, even though it was in pieces!
Today's match with Kanepi was pretty good for me - again, I didn't think I was playing amazingly but I was solid enough to win. And the first game... what an unbelievable game! It was 20 minutes. I've never played a game like that. When I lost that game and the third game, which was pretty long also, we were at 32 minutes already and we had only played three games. I thought if the match was going to be like that the whole time, I wouldn't survive! She played very well - she has a good serve and hits it really hard. I was just solid enough today.
When you're online do you also read tennis sites or message boards to see what people write about you? - Linda
I look at them sometimes but not that much. I know someone who makes one of my unofficial sites and he sends me some things people say or write about me, but that's about the only time I see any of it. Some things are nice, but some are not that nice. I prefer to just focus on my life and my game and not worry!
