Flavia Pennetta might briefly return for 2016 Olympics, but Fognini doubles pairing not in play

Flavia Pennetta says she may break her retirement to play at the Rio 2016 Olympics, but her relationship with Fabio Fognini is best kept 'in the private sphere'.

Flavia Pennetta serves during the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships in Dubai earlier this year. Karim Sahib / AFP / February 15, 2015

US Open champion Flavia Pennetta could delay retirement from tennis by playing at the 2016 Rio Olympics, but says she won’t “risk” partnering boyfriend Fabio Fognini in the mixed doubles.

Pennetta defeated Roberta Vinci earlier this year in the first ever all-Italian grand slam final to claim the biggest win of her career, and then announced her retirement from the sport.

The 33-year-old right-hander supposedly ended her career two months ago with defeat to Maria Sharapova at the WTA Finals in Singapore.

But although she has been enjoying some time off in recent months, Pennetta hinted at participating at next summer’s Olympics.

“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 on the fringes of an Italian Olympic Committee (CONI) awards ceremony on Tuesday.

“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.”

But Pennetta, who won an Australian Open doubles title partnering Argentina’s Gisela Dulko in 2011, said she would put her relationship with Fognini at risk if they teamed up in Rio.

“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.”

Pennetta, who turned professional in 2000, has 11 singles and 17 doubles titles to her name.

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