Schiavone Strikes Singles Success over Stosur

Francesca Schiavone gave Italy its first female champion in a grand slam tournament Saturday by winning the French Open in a taut match over Samantha Stosur. Seventeenth seeded, Schiavone dispatched the seventh-seeded Australian to the tune of 6-4, 7-6. It was 29 year old Schiavone’s first grand slam singles title, and just the second time a woman seeded outside the top ten won the final at Roland Garros. Schiavone was ranked 50th last year at the French Open. She lost in the first round of the 2009 tournament to Stosur.
Stosur couldn’t stop her yesterday in Schiavone’s 39th grand slam appearance. The veteran Italian rallied from a 4-1 second set deficit to surpass Stosur and force a tiebreaker. Schiavone reached match point after drilling four consecutive winners. The quality of play was excellent on both ends of the court, but it was Schiavone’s stylish mix of spin shots and dogged defense that won her the title. Both players held serve until the ninth game of the match, when Stosur was broken at 4-4. The Australian dumped a backhand into the net as Schiavone served out the first set. Stosur, who defeated top-ranked Justin Henin, Serena Williams and Jelena Jankovic to advance to her first championship, pounded speedy kick serves that topped 120 mph. Schiavone pounced on reach one with steady and solid returns and went after her opponent’s weaker backhand. Stosur’s forehand lacked an aggressive punch and she became passive in the backcourt. The Italian’s inside-out forehand was much more powerful and stifling. Schiavone reeled over three games, attacking the net during the second set, to complete the comeback. Schiavone closed out the tiebreaker 7-2 with a firm focus in the ground game and executing at a high level. Stosur suffered in long rallies and her serve was neutralized. She played a terrific match but Schiavone was the better competitor on this Saturday in Paris.

Parting Points: Congrats to Drosselmeyer, the 2010 Belmont winner.

From the bookshelf- “Roger Maris: Baseball’s Reluctant Hero” by Tom Clavin and Danny Peary