Pennetta wins her first match in season ending event

Flavia Pennetta kept herself in contention for a place in the WTA Championships to be held in Doha later this month when she defeated American Meghann Shaughnessy 6-1, 6-1 in the first round yesterday.

Flavia Pennetta kept herself in contention for a place in the WTA Championships to be held in Doha later this month when she defeated American Meghann Shaughnessy 6-1, 6-1 in the first round yesterday.

Flavia Pennetta, who beat Meghann Shaughnessy yesterday

Seven of the eight places for the season-ending spectacular have been filled with five players other than Pennetta striving for the final berth.

"Well, it's there," said the top seed here. "We are four or five players, but I have to win this one and Moscow so it will be not easy. But I'm here to try and make it, of course."

A left knee injury has meant that Shaughnessy has barely competed over the past two seasons.

She claimed just one win in the six matches she played in 2008, and her only victory in nine matches this year came against an opponent ranked 638.

She began aggressively against Pennetta, holding serve to love, but then failed to take advantage of four game points at 1-1 before the Italian broke with a crosscourt pass.