Stars bid addio to Flavia: the social round-up

A special ceremony in Rome to honour recently retired US Open champion Flavia Pennetta left the popular Italian in tears – and the emotion spilled onto social media as past and present stars shared their well wishes:

Grazie, @Flavia_Pennetta! ????@SerenaWilliams, @BillieJeanKing, @ChrissieEvert, @DjokerNole & @RafaelNadal say ciao!https://t.co/PVXhioncuN

— WTA (@WTA) May 10, 2016

Flavi, I am so grateful to be part of the tennis family with you for so many years. You are a great competitor and a great person and I am..

— Petra Kvitova (@Petra_Kvitova) May 10, 2016

Always happy to see your smiley face. Wish you all the best for the future, be happy and healthy! Ciao bella @flavia_pennetta ?????

— Petra Kvitova (@Petra_Kvitova) May 10, 2016

We ?? you, @flavia_pennetta!! Ti vogliamo bene, Flavia!! ???????????? pic.twitter.com/YjzWapUkPt

— Carla Suarez Navarro (@CarlaSuarezNava) May 10, 2016

I will miss competing against you & especially your lovely personality. Big hugs again ???????????? @flavia_pennetta #goodbye pic.twitter.com/6F7roaAQ2J

— Sabine Lisicki (@sabinelisicki) May 10, 2016

We will miss u Flavi! ???? https://t.co/OLCJAEf0C0

— lucie safarova (@luciesafarova) May 10, 2016

@flavia_pennetta There's not enough words to say,what a wonderful girl you are!High class lady,amazing friend,fighter.Will miss you Flavi ????????

— Elena Vesnina (@EVesnina001) May 10, 2016

.@flavia_pennetta has always been one of the most thoughtful and caring individuals in our sport! I'm so glad she is being honored tonight.

— CoCo Vandeweghe (@CoCoVandey) May 10, 2016

As the Rome tournament continues, the players are still getting out and about to see the city.

Petra Kvitova enjoyed an evening walk:

Rome, you are beautiful ???? pic.twitter.com/dcz0K5LCYn

— Petra Kvitova (@Petra_Kvitova) May 10, 2016

And Donna Vekic has been taking it all in:

#wheninRome #touristmode #legsdead #cantwalk #sendhelp ????????

A photo posted by Donna Vekic (@donnavekic) on May 10, 2016 at 10:13am PDT

But defending champion Maria Sharapova is not there and is missing the gelato:

Missing Rome for obvious reasons but this happened and it made me miss Rome even more. #GelatoGameNotTheSame pic.twitter.com/C8Ottze4AH

— Maria Sharapova (@MariaSharapova) May 10, 2016

Borna Coric and Ivo Karlovic are saying goodbye too after being eliminated from the tournament:

So sorry @InteBNLdItalia finished this quickly for me. Hopefully I will return stronger next year https://t.co/4Necn7FGt6

— borna coric (@borna_coric) May 10, 2016

Bye bye Rome

— ivo karlovic (@ivokarlovic) May 10, 2016

Someone who is hanging around is Serena Williams. The world No.1 won through to the third round with a special supporter in the stands – her dog Chip:

In attendance this evening, Chip Williams! ???? ???? #ibi16 pic.twitter.com/FI9UT0aWom

— WTA (@WTA) May 10, 2016