U.S. Open: Flavia Pennetta upsets 10th-seeded Roberta Vinci

NEW YORK -- Flavia Pennetta advanced to her first Grand Slam semifinal by upsetting fellow Italian and 10th-seeded Roberta Vinci on Wednesday, 6-4, 6-1, at the U.S. Open.

The 31-year-old Pennetta had become the first Italian woman to be ranked in the top 10 but since has been surpassed by several women, including Sara Errani, who seeded fourth for the U.S. Open, and Vinci from Italy. Pennetta was ranked 83rd.

Pennetta and Vinci, former doubles partners, gave each other a long hug and Vinci gave Pennetta a kiss on the cheek and whispered into her ear, “Brava.”

On the Arthur Ashe Stadium Court, Pennetta said, “I am really happy. I cannot believe this. It was tough today to play against Roberta. Really tough.”

Pennetta has beaten four straight seeded opponents here -- including Errani -- and she hasn’t lost a set. Her next match will come against the winner of Wednesday night’s contest between second-seeded and 2012 finalist Victoria Azarenka and unseeded Daniela Hantuchova.

Among the women quarterfinalists, five were 30 or older, including Serena Williams and Li Na, who will play in a semifinal Friday.

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