Tag: Schiavone

MELANIE OUDIN ‘BELIEVE’ HELPED HER TO US OPEN FINAL

October 1, 2017

Ahead of the forthcoming 2017 US Open Grand Slam event, we remember how an unseeded 17-year old Melanie Oudinsailed to the quarterfinals of the 2009 event.


The 25-year old has recently announced her retirement from the game after numerous health strains. However, her feat eight years back remain memorable.

At Wimbledon 2009, she qualified for the event and went all the way to the Round of 16. She defeated top players like then world no. 6 JelenaJankovic along the way. At the event in New York that year she became a household name.

Oudinearned a wildcard to the event but shocked the community when she knocked out four Russian tennis stars in a row. She ousted Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova first then doubled it against Elena Dementieva. When everybody thought she had met her waterloo in Maria Sharapova, she dusted the star. She then saw off competition against Nadia Petrovato earn cult following and endless admiration. She couldn’t get past Caroline Wozniacki though, but at least she wasn’t Russian. Continue 

I AM VERY PLEASED TO WIN AGAIN – SCHIAVONE

May 16, 2017

For the main draw at this year’s tournament in Roland Garros, a wild card into Bogota might have helpedFrancesca Schiavone, former French Open champion to qualify.


So far into the season, the 2010 French Open champion had gone on without a single win in any match which thus saw her drop down in the rankings to No. 168. However, all she needed was to ask for a wild card which would allow her participate in the small WTA International tournament held in Bogota.

She received a wild card eventually and paved her way through to defeat three of the tour four seeds. In the final, she completed the journey by taking down an injured Lara Arruabarrena.

After emerging victorious, the 35-year old Italian leapt up and down the court and spoke to the local press, comparing this victory to that of her biggest career win back in Paris.

She said; “In this moment I have memories of my championship in Roland Garros. I have always had very good performances on clay. It was too long since I won a title and I am very pleased to win again. Continue 

ACAPULCO OPENER: PUIG FIRES PAST SCHIAVONE

April 1, 2017

Monica Piug, No.4 seedsurvived a stern opening-round test as she fired down, powering past WTA veteran Francesca Schiavone 6-4, 7-6(4) at the AbiertoMexicanoTelcel.


Speaking before the tournament, Piug who is Latin American’s America’s No.1 player talked about how playing in Acapulco felt a little bit like home.

The Puerto Rican said:“I’m really happy to have the beach right there – it’s in my blood, I’m from the Caribbean so I really like it,”

“I’ve played in Mexico several years, starting from Juniors until WTA. For me, this tournament is one of the most comfortable.”

Despite starting strong and coming off with a break in the opening game, Piug looked decidedly less comfortable as she battled it out against 2010 French Open champion Schiavoneon Cancha Central.

The Puerto Rican was largely frustrated by the tricky, deliberate and one handed backhand tactic employed by Schiavone. However, in the first set, the Italian veteran was unable to take any of the three break chances she created. Continue 

Can Schiavone Follow Sabatini?

June 23, 2016

Gabriela Sabatini turned 46 years of age recently. Being a former tennis champion from Argentina, she stands associated with wins at the US Open as well as in Rome. If you look at her now, she looks wonderful, even at 46. Born in 1970, she has a freshness about her still.

She faced several successes on the tennis court, amounting to 27 in total. Her first success was in the match she played with Steffi Graf in 1990. She also had memorable wins like the one she gained in New York in the year 1988. She also gained a victory at Wimbledon in the year 1991. Continue 

Schiavone Denies Retirement Rumours

June 8, 2016

Francesca Schiavone is one of the first Italian woman players who won a Grand Slam event while playing singles. The lady took her tennis playing skills to the next level in 1998. In addition, she achieved the title of French Open Singles in 2010. Also, she was the runner up for the French Open in the year 2011. Indeed, the player is the only last player in the women’s tournament to have achieved the Grand Slam.

Looking at the achievements and popularity, there was a shocking announcement made recently which was hard to believe. There was a false rumor announced by the Twitter account that this Italian player was taking retirement after the loss to Kristina Mladenovic. It was wrongly done by the Roland Garros account and then Schiavone clarified that she had no plans of retiring as it was not the last match for her. This clarification indeed offered a great sense of relief to all her fans. Continue 

Francesca Schiavone: experience counts

December 22, 2015

Francesca Schiavone is one of the oldest female players going around on the tour, but, she is not starting even to contemplate retirement.

The Italian reckons she has not lost that competitive edge inside her and till the time it’s there, there is no question of her bidding adieu to the game.

According to Schiavone, quite a few players, who are almost of the same age or maybe just a tad younger than her, are still being active in the professional circuit and they are actually doing quite wonderfully, the likes of Serena and others. So, if they can maintain their bodies in good shape and keep going, there is no reason why she can’t continue. Continue