BRINDISI, Italy — More than a thousand fans have lined the streets of Flavia Pennetta's hometown of Brindisi, in southern Italy, to welcome back the U.S. Open champion.
Pennetta arrived Friday at a seafront stage on an open-top bus, accompanied by 50 children from the local tennis club where she learned to play.
Waiting for her on stage for the brief celebration was the mayor of Brindisi, Mimmo Consales.
Pennetta beat fellow Italian Roberta Vinci in New York on Saturday to claim her first Grand Slam title and immediately announced her retirement.
The 33-year-old was also the first Italian to triumph at Flushing Meadows.