Recently retired US Open champion Flavia Pennetta has indicated that she may still play at the 2016 Rio Olympics during a interview in Rome.
The comments came during the Italian Olympic Committee (CONI) awards on Tuesday. The 33-year-old stunned the crowd at the US Open when she announced that she will retire from the sport at the end of 2015, moments after clinching her first Grand Slam title in singles. Nevertheless, despite her retirement plans, the former world No.1 doubles player hinted that she could go to the Olympic Games depending on how she is feeling.
“Right now I’m taking some time for myself, and if the desire to play returns then I will always have time to go back on my decision,” Pennetta said.
“I’m not setting any time limits, whether I go to Rio or not depends on how I feel. At the top level, if you’re not in the mood to compete the younger players will walk all over you.”
Pennetta’s best performance in the Olympic Games was at the 2008 Beijing Olympics when she reached the quarter-final of the Women’s doubles tournament alongside Francesca Schiavone. In the singles she reached the third round at the 2012 London Olympics.
If the Italian returns to the Olympics, she has ruled out playing with her partner Fabio Fognini. Speaking about the reason why she doesn’t want to play with Fognini, Pennetta said that she prefers to keep their relationship in a ‘private sphere’.
“With Fabio, it’s best to keep things in the private sphere,” she said.
“When you mix certain things together you risk breaking them up sooner than expected.”
This isn’t the first time that the 33-year-old has hinted about a potential appearance next year’s Rio Olympics. In October at the China Open, Pennetta made similar remarks to the media.
