Schiavone wins maiden slam crown
Source: Agencies |
June 6, 2010, Sunday
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WITH the performance of a lifetime, Francesca Schiavone became the first Italian woman to win a grand slam title by beating Samantha Stosur 6-4, 7-6 (2) in the final of the French Open yesterday.
Schiavone threw uppercuts, put her fists to her face, skipped about the court and laughed at the crowd. And then, when she had won the final, she really let her emotions show.
The tour veteran rallied from a 1-4 deficit in the second set and took the clinching tiebreaker with a succession of brilliant shots.
After winning, Schiavone fell onto her back, then rolled over and kissed the clay. She rose covered with dirt, hugged Stosur and broke into a champion's grin. She then trotted to the back of the baseline and climbed the wall for a group hug with her supporters.
At 29, Schiavone became the oldest woman to win her first grand slam title since Ann Jones won Wimbledon in 1969 at age 30. She's the first Italian grand slam champion since Adriano Panatta won the French Open men's title in 1976.
Schiavone was seeded 17th. The only other time the Roland Garros title has been won by a woman not seeded in the top 10 was in 1933.
The women's final was the best in nearly a decade at Roland Garros, and the quality of play climaxed in the tiebreaker. Schiavone reached match point by hitting four straight winners, the last a lunging backhand volley, and she exulted after every one.
Schiavone then hit a backhand into the corner with so much spin it deflected off Stosur's racket, and the real celebration began.
Both players were first-time grand slam finalists, but there were few signs of jitters. They served well and held without facing a break point until the ninth game, when Stosur fell behind love-40. She saved two break points but then double-faulted for the first time, slapping her thigh in anger after the mistake.
Schiavone fell behind love-30 in the next game but rallied, hitting four winners to help her hold and seal the set. Stosur walked off the court screaming angrily at herself.
Stosur saved two break points and held to go ahead 2-1 in the second set, then broke for the first time en route to a 4-1 lead. Schiavone rallied, losing only four points in the next three games and taking advantage of several Stosur errors to reach 4-all. Both players then held to reach the exciting tiebreaker.
Today, revenge or the No. 1 rankings will not be on Rafael Nadal's mind when he takes on Robin Soderling in the men's final. The world No. 2 will only care about reclaiming his French Open title.
Circumstances have conspired to create an intriguing men's singles final between the Spaniard and the Swede who ambushed his hopes of a fifth consecutive title in Paris last year with a victory that reverberated far beyond Roland Garros.
Following that fourth-round defeat, Nadal's career hit its lowest ebb when knee problems prevented him defending his Wimbledon title and he slipped back below Roger Federer in the rankings. Many feared his career was in decline.
Fast forward a year and the 24-year-old looks as irresistible as ever on his beloved clay courts.
He is yet to drop a set here so far and has won 21 consecutive matches on the red dust, taking in titles in Monte Carlo, Rome and Madrid. The Mallorcan boats a 37-1 record at the French Open but the one blemish still niggles him.
But for Soderling, Nadal would probably be seeking a sixth consecutive French Open title today. Now the Swede and his heavy artillery stands in his way again.
"I never believe in revenge, I believe in trying my best in every moment. If I lose, I lose, and I'll congratulate Robin because he did better than me," Nadal said. "For me, revenge doesn't exist in any match, and especially in the final at Roland Garros."
Schiavone threw uppercuts, put her fists to her face, skipped about the court and laughed at the crowd. And then, when she had won the final, she really let her emotions show.
The tour veteran rallied from a 1-4 deficit in the second set and took the clinching tiebreaker with a succession of brilliant shots.
After winning, Schiavone fell onto her back, then rolled over and kissed the clay. She rose covered with dirt, hugged Stosur and broke into a champion's grin. She then trotted to the back of the baseline and climbed the wall for a group hug with her supporters.
At 29, Schiavone became the oldest woman to win her first grand slam title since Ann Jones won Wimbledon in 1969 at age 30. She's the first Italian grand slam champion since Adriano Panatta won the French Open men's title in 1976.
Schiavone was seeded 17th. The only other time the Roland Garros title has been won by a woman not seeded in the top 10 was in 1933.
The women's final was the best in nearly a decade at Roland Garros, and the quality of play climaxed in the tiebreaker. Schiavone reached match point by hitting four straight winners, the last a lunging backhand volley, and she exulted after every one.
Schiavone then hit a backhand into the corner with so much spin it deflected off Stosur's racket, and the real celebration began.
Both players were first-time grand slam finalists, but there were few signs of jitters. They served well and held without facing a break point until the ninth game, when Stosur fell behind love-40. She saved two break points but then double-faulted for the first time, slapping her thigh in anger after the mistake.
Schiavone fell behind love-30 in the next game but rallied, hitting four winners to help her hold and seal the set. Stosur walked off the court screaming angrily at herself.
Stosur saved two break points and held to go ahead 2-1 in the second set, then broke for the first time en route to a 4-1 lead. Schiavone rallied, losing only four points in the next three games and taking advantage of several Stosur errors to reach 4-all. Both players then held to reach the exciting tiebreaker.
Today, revenge or the No. 1 rankings will not be on Rafael Nadal's mind when he takes on Robin Soderling in the men's final. The world No. 2 will only care about reclaiming his French Open title.
Circumstances have conspired to create an intriguing men's singles final between the Spaniard and the Swede who ambushed his hopes of a fifth consecutive title in Paris last year with a victory that reverberated far beyond Roland Garros.
Following that fourth-round defeat, Nadal's career hit its lowest ebb when knee problems prevented him defending his Wimbledon title and he slipped back below Roger Federer in the rankings. Many feared his career was in decline.
Fast forward a year and the 24-year-old looks as irresistible as ever on his beloved clay courts.
He is yet to drop a set here so far and has won 21 consecutive matches on the red dust, taking in titles in Monte Carlo, Rome and Madrid. The Mallorcan boats a 37-1 record at the French Open but the one blemish still niggles him.
But for Soderling, Nadal would probably be seeking a sixth consecutive French Open title today. Now the Swede and his heavy artillery stands in his way again.
"I never believe in revenge, I believe in trying my best in every moment. If I lose, I lose, and I'll congratulate Robin because he did better than me," Nadal said. "For me, revenge doesn't exist in any match, and especially in the final at Roland Garros."
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