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New Yorker Falconi Lasts 51 Minutes in U.S. Open `Learning Experience'
Irina Falconi’s debut at the U.S. Open lasted less than an hour. That was long enough for the New Yorker to get a sense of what it will take for her to reach the top echelon of women’s tennis.
Falconi, ranked No. 387 in the world, lost 6-2, 6-1 to Flavia Pennetta, the 19th seed from Italy, last night on the opening day of the season’s final Grand Slam event.
Falconi, 20, who grew up in New York, said it was “a great way to measure where I am” three months into her professional tennis career.
“This has been such a great learning experience, and I’m excited to go home and start working on things again,” she told reporters after her 51-minute loss. “I didn’t feel like I was a deer in the headlights.”
Falconi opened the match by winning four straight points on her serve, drawing “Go Irina!” cheers and loud applause from fans on Court 13 -- which is separated by food booths and souvenir stores from the stadium court where Venus Williams was winning her first-round match.
Falconi then lost three games before winning one and losing three more to end the first set.
In the second set, the American held her serve in the opening game -- ending it with her only ace of the match. Pennetta then won the final six games of the match, capturing 17 of the last 20 points.
“I really felt I could hang with her,” Falconi said. “She really showed me what it takes to be a top-20 player.”
Ecuador Born
Falconi was born in Ecuador, where her father was a pro soccer player. After moving to New York, she earned the nickname “The Crown Jewel” on the public courts at Inwood Hill Park in northern Manhattan.
She went on to be a two-time All American at Georgia Tech University in Atlanta, which she left after her sophomore year to turn pro. Falconi, who now lives in Jupiter, Florida, was invited to the qualifying tournament for the U.S. Open as a wild card and won three matches to reach the tournament’s main draw.
Pennetta, 28, who has reached the quarterfinals of the U.S. Open the past two years, said she had to go online yesterday morning to find out about her opponent.
“I went to You Tube to see a little bit about her because I knew nothing about her,” the Italian said. “She’s not used to playing in this kind of tournament. Being in the first round of the U.S. Open isn’t easy.”
After losing, Falconi signed autographs at courtside and walked virtually unnoticed back to the players’ lounge.
Two days earlier, she’d told reporters “there’s not a significant gap between college players and the pro level.” The defeat by Pennetta made those differences clearer.
“The consistency, that’s probably the biggest thing, and the experience,” she said. “College tennis is very team oriented, and out here you’re fighting on your own.”
To contact the reporter on this story: Rob Gloster at the U.S. Open at rgloster@bloomberg.net
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