Flavia Pennetta and Fabio Fognini reveal how their relationship bloomed into a full-fledged love match.
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They have scheduled a June 11th wedding in Italy.
In a new interview with Vanity Fair Italy out today, the Italian couple recall the roots of their relationship, why Fabio calls Flavia "Nina" and feelings on marriage.
Long-time friends felt the love during a kiss on the couch.
"We did not expect a relationship of friendship and fun, going on for years when both were engaged, we had one day that the speeches were the same, but the feelings and different looks," Pennetta said. "And one evening on the couch at home went off the kiss. A strange kiss: It looked like we knew all along, that we kissed us all life."
The US Open champion says her mother tells her when she was eight-years-old she spoke of her dream to someday get married and start a family. Pennetta also reveals why her relationship with former fiance, former world No. 1 Carlos Moya, was not built to last.
"Some of my mates, like Carlos Moya, I really loved," Pennetta tells Vanity Fair. "But I realize that they were not the right people because I would never have endured their flaws forever."
Pennetta, who beat Simona Halep and good friend Roberta Vinci to win the US Open last September, tells the magazine she made the decision to retire before arriving in New York City and doesn't miss playing.
"Not for now. I stopped with no regrets having received much more than what I ever expected," Pennetta said. "I played two Saturdays ago, after two months since I (last) touched the racquet, and just because Fabio was at home...I haven't stopped laughing."
The interview, of course, is conducted in Italian. Even if you aren't fluent in the language or don't have time to run a translation there's an exquisite photo gallery of the couple with striking images by Alan Gelati here.
Photo credit: Alan Gelati/Vanity Fair Italy