US Open champion Flavia Pennetta believes lifting a first grand slam title next to her childhood friend was the perfect way to end her career. Pennetta beat fellow Italian and long-time companion Roberta Vinci 7-6 (7-4) 6-2 and then used her victory speech to announce her retirement in front of a shocked crowd in Arthur Ashe Stadium.

The world number 26 will still play on until the end of the season but this was her last outing at Flushing Meadows and her final match at a major. Pennetta had been rated 150/1 to win before the fortnight began and at 33 she becomes the oldest female in the Open era to win a major tournament for the first time.

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Source: http://www.rte.ie/