Since Flavia Pennetta's unexpected retirment news, announced just minutes after she won her first Grand Slam title at the US Open last month, the Italian's plans for the future have been unclear. However, it has been clarified that Pennetta will indeed officially go into retirement after the WTA Finals in Singapore. The news broke via @christophclarey on Twitter: 'Talked to Flavia Pennetta yesterday at length: she confirmed that the WTA Finals will be her last tour event. No Rio Olympics in 2016'

The newly crowned US Open champion revealed her news during her on-court speech, saying that, “Sometimes it's getting hard for me to compete.' 'You have to fight every week and if you don't in the way I did today, it's going to be bad. It was a really hard decision but I'm really happy I did it. I'm really happy and proud of myself." explained the Italian.

Qualification For Singapore

Pennetta became the seventh to qualify for the 2015 WTA Finals in Singapore. She won her first match at the Kremlin Cup in Moscow, lifting her into the line-up for the final showdown of the WTA tour. Pennetta instantly withdrawed from the Kremlin Cup after qualifying, just hours after snapping up enough points for Singapore. The Slam champion will be keen to prepare properly for the WTA Finals and ensure she wraps up her career in style.

It'll be the last tournament of the Italian's career, and Pennetta is excited to make her debut in singles. "Qualifying for the WTA Finals is a dream come true and the perfect way to end to an amazing season for me. It will also be a wonderful way for me to say to say goodbye to tennis - it's a spectacular stage to bow out on. Having won the WTA Finals before in doubles, I can't wait to make my debut in singles."

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