The fifth-seeded Kanepi registered a 6-4, 6-3 decision to collect her first career title, surpassing her previous bests of two second-place finishes at the 2006 Hasselt event and the 2008 Japan Open.
Kanepi was able to break Pennetta's serve six times, including once in the opening set and again for a 4-2 lead in the second set. Kanepi held at love to assure her first tournament triumph.
Pennetta failed in her bid to repeat as Palermo champ and take 10th career WTA title.
Copyright 2010 United Press International, Inc. (UPI).