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Pennetta happy with her performance

The world number 22 had to earn the right to play here as she was ranked 29th when the automatic candidates were being drawn up.

Most, if not all, professional tennis players have long since come to the realisation that there’s a simple equation for mastering 32-strong fields — Wins x 5: Tournament victory come weekend.

Spare a thought then for Italy’s Flavia Pennetta, who has won as many matches over the course of the past week in the singles competition here, yet only reached the quarter-finals as her campaign started on Saturday in qualifying not Monday’s main draw.

The world number 22 had to earn the right to play here as she was ranked 29^th when the automatic candidates were being drawn up and the cut-off point was one place further up (28^th).

Thus, despite finding some form and momentum and knocking out the world number three Agnieszka Radwanska in the last-16 phase, Pennetta’s concerted challenge came up short against Venus Williams in the quarters.

“The cut-off for this tournament was unbelievable,” the 31-year-old admitted frankly. “When I signed to play in this tournament, I was 29^th and to be in qualifying with that world ranking is crazy.

“But, the rules are like this — you have to sign into it six weeks beforehand and, at that moment, I was 29^th.

“I had bad luck because two players entered with a special (protected) ranking (Kaia Kanepi & Alisa Kleybanova) and they used the top-20 wildcard (Serena Williams). I just was one out, but whenever something like this happens, it always does so for a reason.

“I’ve played eight matches (in singles and doubles) so far and I’m tired, but happy because I’m starting to play better.

“At the beginning of the week, I wasn’t playing my best tennis and now I feel comfortable. I’ve played good matches here and the beginning of the year has been really good, so I can be happy for the moment.”

Pennetta revealed she almost quit the sport last year after a six-month period that saw her struggling to rediscover her game and any form following right-wrist surgery in August 2012. However, her dedication to her support team kept her going through a tough drought and she got her due reward with a semi-final showing at the US Open.

“In New York, something changed,” Pennetta added. “I was the same player and person and everything was the same, but the work and everything just helped a lot.”