NEW YORK — Roberta Vinci, playing in her first grand slam singles final, lost twice at the U.S. Open on Saturday after coming up short in an all-Italian clash against her closest friend on tour.
Vinci fell 7-6(4) 6-2 to Flavia Pennetta in an improbable all-Italian final but then lost something more important minutes later when her childhood friend embraced her at the net and told her she was retiring.
"I said to her, congratulation, Well done, enjoy. You played better than me today. That's it," said Vinci. "And she said, 'This is my last match on the U.