Tennis star Flavia Pennetta thanked her thrilling 2015 US Open title.
And now she’s on her way back – as a new mother of three.
– Everything is possible, as long as you want, she says.
Flavia Pennetta has been a solid player in the Top 20 for several years, but has rarely managed to go very far in Grand Slam tournaments.
But in the fall of 2015, she shocked everyone and went all the way and won the US Open.
By that time, she had already decided to quit – no matter how things went.
The Italian left the stage with the flag at the top and has since married and had children with his compatriot Fabio Fognini, also a successful tennis player.
In 2017, the couple gave birth to their first child. 2019 came after that. And at the end of November, less than six months ago, Flavia Pennetta became the mother of three.
“My first love”
And although she was born three times in a short time, she has now decided to resume her career.
Tennis was my first big love. I need to put a few things together, but everything works, if you want to, I told Gazzetta dello Sport.
It’s not about a complete comeback at elite level, but Pennetta, now 40, has scored at the French Open, which begins in a few weeks. There, she and another former co-star, Francesca Schiavone, will play doubles together in the so-called “Legends category” – the level of the former champions slightly older.
“But even if it’s show matches, you want to get there in good shape, have fun and avoid injuries,” she says.
This is how you train
Benita says she started with lighter training during the pregnancy itself, but has now converted before returning.
– It’s been almost six months since my last birth and I’ve been able to increase my training, even if I haven’t gone out to extremes. I give myself plenty of time to recover. Initially, she focused mostly on the abdominal muscles to regain their full function after pregnancy. Lately, I’ve increased weight and intensity.