2015 US Open champion Flavia Pennetta has announced she is expecting her first child with husband and tennis professional Fabio Fognini. The pair married in their native Italy last year after having been in a relationship for two years, with Pennetta retiring following her US Open victory over compatriot and former doubles partner Roberta Vinci.
In a post to her Twitter page, Pennetta said in an announcement that “Baby Fognetta was coming”, with a heartfelt message for fans in her native Italian.
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“There have been many moments we have had in our lives that have given us happiness, joy and excitement, both on the field and in our private lives,” she said, “but the moment in which we learned we would become parents, that was unique.”
“It is with a heart full of joy that Fabio and I announce this beautiful news that crowns our love.”
In 2009, Pennetta became the first ever player from Italy to reach the WTA top 10 in the singles; an extremely proficient doubles player as well, she became the first ever Italian to be the doubles World No. 1 – male or female.
The Italian ace announced her retirement immediately after her US Open win, telling fans that she would play out the remainder of her 2015 season, but it would be her last. Her performance at the US Open gave Pennetta what would be her first – and last – WTA finals qualification, where she beat defending champion Agnieszka Radwanska early on, and ended her career as the World No. 8.
Pennetta and Fognini began dating in 2014, with Fognini a constant presence at the women’s singles at the WTA; he proposed in 2015, with the pair marrying in 2016.
The 34-year-old was previously in a long-term relationship with former World No. 1 Carlos Moya, about whose infidelity she wrote in her memoir Dritto al Cuore (Straight to the Heart) years after the two separated.
Moya is in a relationship with Spanish actress Carolina Cerezeula, who is alleged to be the third party in the incident that spurred the pair’s breakup. Cerezuela and Moya now have three children.
Fognini, currently ranked 49th in the ATP singles rankings, won the Australian Open doubles titles in 2015 partnered by Simone Bolelli.
