Intriguing Italians: 7 interesting facts about the US Open 2015 women's singles final

She was the last person expected to derail the Serena Calendar Grand Slam, but the diminutive Roberta Vinci stunned the three-time defending champion to reach the first Major final of her career. In the final, she will face compatriot and fellow first-timer Flavia Pennetta, who ousted another favourite Simona Halep.The two women took out favourites World No. 1 Serena Williams and World No. 2 Simona Halep to set up an unexpected summit clash in the final Grand Slam of the year. The former World Number 11 and Number 10 will face off for one of the most coveted titles in tennis. Here are some interesting facts on Saturday’s finals

#7 Player to appear in most Grand Slams before winning one: Vinci or Pennetta?

Marion Bartoli won a Grand Slam after 47 tournaments when she won the 2013 Wimbledon title

In 2013, Marion Bartoli broke Jana Novotna’s record of participating in the most number of Grand Slam tournaments before winning a title (at 45) by taking the number to 47. Saturday’s winner will take the number even further. This will be Roberta Vinci’s 55th appearance at a Grand Slam event while it will be the 52nd for Flavia Pennetta.

#6 Two of the lowest ranked player in the final

Venus Williams and Kim Clijsters were the only previous unseeded finalists in Grand Slam finals

For the third time, after Venus Williams (1997) and Kim Clijsters (2009-WC), the Womens Singles event will see an unseeded finalist in the Open Era in Roberta Vinci. In fact, Flavia Pennetta, seeded 26, will be one of the lowest seeded players to reach the finals at the same event (Serena was seeded 28 in 2011 using a PR). Thus, Vinci and Pennetta will be among the lowest ranked players to play the final at Flushing Meadows.

#5 65 years of age: The oldest women\'s final at a Grand Slam

Schiavone was 29 when she became the first Italian to win a singles Grand Slam at the 2010 French Open

Aged 32 and 33 respectively, Vinci and Pennetta will be older than Francesca Schiavone when she won the 2010 French Open. In fact, Pennetta would be the oldest player in the Open Era to win the US Open title if she manages to put off Vincis fire. At a combined age of 65, this would be the oldest womens Grand Slam final.

#4 Past success for Vinci and Pennetta at Flushing Meadows

The two have tated success in the past at the US Ope

The two Italians are not new to success at Flushing Meadows. Pennetta reached the Women’s doubles finals in 2005 with Elena Dementieva, and more recently with Martina Hingis last year. Roberta Vinci and Sara Errani won the title in 2012. This year, Pennetta and Errani reached the semifinals, as the 11^th seeds, where they lost to the top seeds Sania Mirza and Martina Hingis while Vinci and Karin Knapp lost in the third round.

Even in singles, the two have had their share of success here. Vinci reached the quarterfinals in 2012 and 2013, having reached the last eight only here while Pennetta reached the semifinals in 2013 and the quarterfinals in four other occasions

#3 World no.1 in doubles and the Women\'s singles champion: A continuing trend

Who will come out on top?

Astonishingly, This will be the eighth straight year when a former World No.1 doubles player will win the US Open Women's singles title. Both Vinci and Pennetta are former World No.1s in doubles, reaching the top spot for the first time in 2012 and 2011 respectively.

#2 First Italian US Open Champ in womens singles

Sara Errani and Roberta Vinci won the 2012 US Open women’s doubles title

The only Italian winners in at the US Open so far have been Sara Errani and Roberta Vinci. The former World No.1 duo won the Women’s doubles title in 2012. With Saturday’s finalists decided, Italy will have its first Women’s Singles champion.

#1 First all-Italian Grand Slam final

Flavia Pennetta and Roberta Vinci will be vying to be just the second Italian to win a singles Grand Slam

Flavia Pennetta and Roberta Vinci will compete in the first all Italian major final at the US Open this year. Francesca Schiavone in singles and Sara Errani, Roberta Vinci, Flavia Pennetta, Simone Bolelli and Fabio Fognini in doubles have managed to win grand slams in the recent past.