Pennetta seeks to even score

November 07, 2009|Andrew Dampf, Associated Press

REGGIO CALABRIA, Italy - Flavia Pennetta can settle her score with American Alexa Glatch in the opening match of the Fed Cup final.

Italy meets the United States on a slow, red clay court in the best-of-five series beginning today at the Rocco Polimeni club.

Glatch routed Pennetta, 6-1, 6-1, in the opening round of the French Open. That’s been the only blemish on a career year for Pennetta, who won back-to-back titles in Palermo, Sicily, and Los Angeles en route to becoming the first female Italian player to reach the top 10 in August.

“I really didn’t play well the first time and she had nothing to lose,’’ said the now 11th-ranked Pennetta yesterday. “Hopefully it will go better this time. I’m going to get together a better game plan with Corrado [Barazzutti, the Italy captain].’’

Glatch acknowledged that “it’s going be a lot different than last time.’’

Francesca Schiavone will face US Open quarterfinalist Melanie Oudin in the second singles today. Schiavone and Oudin, 18, have also met once before, with the Italian routing the youngster, 6-1, 6-1, last year.

Oudin, who also reached the fourth round at Wimbledon this year, burst into the spotlight with her US Open run. She said the last meeting with Schiavone felt like it took place “three years ago.’’

“She was very experienced and she handled me pretty easily. But I think I’ve improved a lot since then,’’ Oudin said.

Reverse singles are set for tomorrow, plus a possible decisive doubles match featuring Liezel Huber and Vania King of the United States against Sara Errani and Roberta Vinci.