Copyright © 2015. No duplication is permitted without permission from Bob Larson Tennis.

Italian Flavia Pennetta is pondering her future options after announcing her retirement after an historic 7-6(4), 6-2 US Open trophy win over compatriot Roberta Vinci in the first all-Italian final in grand slam history. The player, aged 33 years and six months, becomes the oldest ever to win a first major title, completing the mission in her 49th career grand slam.

Pennetta also announced her career-ending decision only moments after the greatest chapter of her sporting life.

She said that while she began thinking of putting an end to it all as early as last January, she came to the hard decision last month in Toronto. “That was the moment when I said it was the time,” said the fiancée of Italian ATP player Fabio Fognini, who flew back from Italy after returning only last week as his Open ended.

“I didn’t know how it would  be at the Open. To finish like this was amazing. This is the last US Open [for me] for sure. The decision maybe took some of the pressure off. When I beat [2011 New York champion] Samantha Stosur in the fourth round, I began to believe that maybe this [really is] the last time (here).

Pennetta, who won $3.3 million, said that she has no idea what to do next in her life. “It’s a new life for me. I’ve played tennis since I was young. Everything was around tennis.”

The new champion paid tribute to Vinci, whom she has known since age 9. “We have spent so much time together. We moved to Rome together when I was 14. We stayed in the same room for four years. She’s like a sister. You have one of your best friends with you; it’s amazing.”

Pennetta called her title win “dream which has finally become a reality. I’m so happy and proud of myself, at 33 it’s something amazing. Roberta and I knew that whomever wins, it would be a big win for both of us. Before this event, I never thought to have this trophy with me.”

Copyright © 2015. No duplication is permitted without permission from Bob Larson Tennis.