NEW YORK — Flavia Pennetta moved closer to winning her maiden grand slam singles title by taking the opening set of Saturday's U.S. Open women's final 7-6(4) against unseeded Italian compatriot Roberta Vinci.
Pennetta took an early advantage in the set during a marathon fifth game in which Vinci saved six break points.
The 33-year-old Pennetta extended Vinci to five deuces before finally cashing in on her seventh break point when her Fed Cup team mate mis-hit a half volley to fall behind 3-2.
Vinci, 32, put the set back on serve with a break in the eighth game set up by a backhand passing shot winner, and they served out to force the opening set tiebreaker in the best-of-three set grand slam final.