French Open - Schiavone wins French Open title

Eurosport - Sat, 05 Jun 15:56:00 2010

Italian 17th seed Francesca Schiavone won her first Grand Slam title when she beat Samantha Stosur 6-4 7-6(2) in the French Open final.

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Schiavone, who had never before gone before the quarter-finals of a Grand Slam, out-hit the nervy Australian from start to finish as she wrapped up the win in 98 minutes.

Victory in Paris meant the 29-year-old became the first Italian woman to win a Grand Slam. She is also the oldest woman to win her first Grand Slam since Ann Jones won Wimbledon in 1969.

"I haven't prepared anything because when I prepare things they never happen," an emotional Schiavone told the crowd as she collected the trophy from former French Open champion Mary Pierce.

"But I felt amazing today, I (felt) like a champion. I am really, really happy. Thank you everybody."

Stosur looked to have made the more confident start to the match as she posted love holds in her first two service games and pushing Schiavone on the return.

But as the first set progressed it was Schiavone who relaxed into the match while Stosur looked constricted in a way she had avoided against four-times champion Justine Henin and world number one Serena Williams earlier in the tournament.

And it was Schiavone who forced the first break points of the match, in the ninth game of the first set, when the Australian hit wide off a decent backhand volley.

The demonstrative Schiavone squandered her first chance by hitting long and the second also went astray when the Italian's backhand passing shot hit the top of the net and landed wide. But Schiavone finally got the break at the third attempt as Stosur slapped down her first double fault of the match.

And the Italian quickly earned herself a set point in the next game. Stosur saved the first with one of her trademark whipped forehand to set up an easy winner on the next point.

But Schiavone produced a great backhand volley winner to set up a second chance; this time taking full advantage with an inside out forehand forcing Stosur to hit an off-balance backhand into the net.

Schiavone looked poised to further extend that lead early in the second set as she earned herself two more break points in just the third game.

But the Australian saved them both before going on to hold with a clever sliced backhand down the line after feigning to hit a double-handed across court.

And that appeared to have finally freed Stosur from the shackles that had restricted her throughout the match, as she broke in the very next game with some tougher hitting that resulted in Schiavone hitting long.

A confident love service hold later and Stosur found herself just two games away from levelling the match.

But Schiavone was determined to have her day and broke back to 15 just two games later, when Stosur drilled an inside out forehand wide.

With both players confident on serve, the set duly went to a tie-break and despite Stosur serving first, Schiavone quickly ran away with proceedings.

The Italian could barely contain her excitement as she took a mini-break lead just before the change of ends with a forehand volley winner.

And just two points three points later, Schiavone sealed the title when Stosur mis-hit a routine backhand ground-stroke straight up into the air.

She celebrated by falling onto her back and kissing the clay on Philippe Chatrier court before climbing into the stands to embrace her entourage.

Pre-match favourite Stosur, struggling to hold back the tears, was gracious in defeat as she missed out on becoming the first Australian woman to win a grand slam singles title since Evonne Goolagong at Wimbldon in 1980.

"First of all, Franc, well done," said the seventh seed, whose mother and two brothers had flown in from Australia to watch the final. "You played very well today, you had a great tournament and good luck for the rest of the year."

French Open men's final: Sunday 1.30pm LIVE on British Eurosport (Sky 410 / Virgin 521) & on the Eurosport Player.

Pippa Davis / Eurosport

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  1. I said yesterday that I’m posting my last post..but as­ the imposter is very nasty guy, and my post is deleted­ everywhere, I would just like to warn people again that­ my account is stolen.
    So please, don’t find your self­ insulted what Igor K is writing, because it is done­ from stolen account.
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    Take­ care people.

    From Phoenix, on Mon 7 Jun 23:16

  2. yep Yamasar about Igor K. He stopped talking rubbish­ for almost a year now so whoever has come back to clone­ him and speak his old language must have just been­ released from serving time at one of Her Majesty's­ facilities. But Igor seemed to have identified who it­ was and, if that is true he should report him to the ­ web crime unit. However because Yahoo are useless at­ maintaining a credible accounts policy, it is more­ likely that he simply opened an account in an existing­ name and it passed. Just look at how many different­ account names called Michael and David on the football­ pages. I thought it was funny that Igor was alluding­ suspicion at me. I couldn't tell a cookie from a­ spyware and of course I remember him laughing when my­ account was cloned. Look elsewhere mate, if I was born­ in 1979, I am pretty sure I wouldn't find the time­ to spend a minute in here. I am old enough to have had­ an issue of that age.

    From sanchez.santos, on Mon 7 Jun 5:00

  3. Please leave complex racist issue out of this forum,­ idiots like that kid Simioni do not represent Italy,­ thank you very much and don't believe all you read­ in the papers either. It is a sad state of affair that­ a lot of football fans fester with fascists that are­ not only racist but outright thughs who go to football­ matches primarily to pick up fights. But outside­ football. I would say they are not more racist than­ your average Ukip or BNP member. Outside of that people­ are more concerned of loss of their livelihood and jobs­ than skin colour, believe me. But racism, taken as a­ form of ignorance, is a worldwide phenomenon.

    From Morituri, on Mon 7 Jun 2:14

  4. congratulations to pretty aussie for eliminating top­ seed on way to final

    we require repeat display at ­ WIMBLEDON with TENNIS ~~~ NOT crash bang bully­ boy tactics

    From simioni44, on Sun 6 Jun 22:30

  5. BEST ladies final for a decade-- they actually ­ played TENNIS

    NO crash .. bang .. BULLY BOY­ violent contest~~~ BIG thanks to both worthy ­ finalists

    From simioni44, on Sun 6 Jun 22:25

  6. Kinda been away since serena lost a match she had in­ her hands. That match sent me into another realm. I­ thought I was about witnessing yet another glorious­ comeback by serena. My heart was totally shattered...by­ serena which isnt usual but Serena once again proved­ she's the best in the world coming from 6-2, 5-3­ down...if it wasn't for the over-hit forehand on­ match point who knows...she might've been holding­ that trophy. There's got to be an award for best­ match of the tourney which should certainly go to the­ duo of serena-sam. Who would've thought sam would­ be outplayed by francesca?
    Congrats to the Schiavone on­ the Grand slam milestone though.

    From Andre, on Sun 6 Jun 22:18

  7. Kinda been away since serena lost a match she had in­ her hands. That match sent me into another realm. I­ thought I was about witnessing yet another glorious­ comeback by serena. My heart was totally shattered...by­ serena which isnt usual but Serena once again proved­ she's the best in the world coming from 6-2, 5-3­ down...if it wasn't for the over-hit forehand on­ match point who knows...she might've been holding­ that trophy. There's got to be an award for best­ match of the tourney which should certainly go to the­ duo of serena-sam. Who would've thought sam would­ be outplayed by francesca?
    Congrats to the Schiavone on­ the Grand slam milestone though.

    From Andre, on Sun 6 Jun 22:15
  8. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    WHAT A BORING FINAL! I realised that I fell asleep­ during the play - seemed like the start of French open

    From fred, on Sun 6 Jun 21:29

  9. FORZA SCHIAVONE AND ITALY...A..
    WISH THE BEST FOR­ AZZURRI IN SOUTH AFRICA TOO.....

    From ashkan, on Sun 6 Jun 18:22

  10. Well done schiavone ! Sammy must be kicking herself she­ didn't play at her best after doing all the hard­ work in earlier rounds tho.

    From ispurs, on Sun 6 Jun 17:19

  11. Con, tennis is just a game, so chill, man.
    I wont jump­ over the bridge if the sisters dont win another­ Slam.
    You really need help, dude.

    From Non, on Sun 6 Jun 16:16

  12. Thanks, Guy, Con is a racist, there was no need for him­ to mention the BLACK golfer, Tiger Woods.
    Teabagger,­ hey, yeah I'm abig fan of the Williams sisters­ but also support other players.

    From Non, on Sun 6 Jun 16:08

  13. #174

    i can't answer for NON. but you can go to­ tennis message board and see her comtribution.
    she is­ against people who slag off the williams, hence some­ comments posted here mau give the wrong impression that­ she only watches williams' games. in relity, she is­ tennis fan. she likes Henin, ivanovic and other players­ as well.

    it is prejudice to read comment posted here­ by people complaining about williams slagging off as­ if they are williams-worshippers. they are only­ counter-attacking the haters, that's all.

    From Guy, on Sun 6 Jun 16:00

  14. Congratulations Francesca Schiavone for winning first­ Grand Slam title "French Open"

    From Cesar, on Sun 6 Jun 15:58

  15. Con- you are just so annoying. I think it's your­ picture that does it- a smug looking yank. Maybe you­ are not one of these people but that's the­ impression I get when I see that self-satisfied picture­ of presumably yourself looking back at me. Do me a­ favour and change it eh?

    From someblokefromthepub, on Sun 6 Jun 15:02

  16. Congratulations Francesca, don't think many people­ saw this coming which of course in no way diminishes­ your magnificent win. I do not know a great deal about­ your career but it is evident that you are extremely­ hard working and fully deserving of your first GS win!

    From Jude, on Sun 6 Jun 15:01

  17. 139

    quality tennis playing came more from Fran,­ ...Stosur was omly bashing the ball no change in her­ game approach, her game plan was : hit the ball as hard­ as possible. she didn't know that the small 29 year­ old italian was as tough as an iron.

    SCHIAVONE has­ used different techniques, she could read the game­ better, and has noticed the weakneses of her opponent­ and tried to build her game approach on it: she has a­ good first serve, she was returning stosur's­ toughest serves, she used volley's to score­ impressive winners as Stosur was so slow to move her­ a$$, decisive hand strokes as well; she used drop shots­ at crucial moment, she was good in rally ...
    i­ didn't see any better tennis from Stosur...so YOU ,­ stop with telling us lies about Stosur playing good­ tennis etc. she was just bashing the ball...

    From Guy, on Sun 6 Jun 14:25

  18. Mr. Avraaaaaaaaaam

    Hurting you? That's just a­ tickle. You already been hurt mentally. I have nothing­ to do with it. I just hope it ends well with you.

    From Smoke, on Sun 6 Jun 14:19

  19. it's good franc won, just don't like sam.­ Nothing personal but she's a bit mechanical!

    From wsnpj, on Sun 6 Jun 13:58

  20. Samantha Stosur, you disappointed me. after taking out­ my girl, I was expecting you to go all the way but you­ buckled at the wrong time, why?
    Francesca Schiavone­ congratulation, the joy of playing Tennis could be­ winning Grand slam and that is what you did. It­ doesn't matter at which age. Onece more,­ CONGRATULATIONS.

    From peace s, on Sun 6 Jun 13:56
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