Schiavone looking good

May 28, 2012

Francesca Schiavone completed a successful tune up for the French Open with a straight-set win over Alize Cornet in the final of the Strasbourg International. Schiavone earned a 6-4, 6-4 victory on Saturday and will try to carry the momentum into Roland Garros, where she has had her greatest Grand Slam success the past two years. The 31-year-old veteran became the first Italian woman to win a major championship at the 2010 French Open and was the runner-up last year to China’s Li Na. Schiavone had struggled for most of 2012 entering this week. Since a semi final appearance in Brisbane to start the year, she had not been past the third round in any of her subsequent nine events.

Included in that disappointing run were first-round exits at both Madrid and Rome. Between Brisbane and Strasbourg, she posted a match record of just 5-13, including three losses in Fed Cup play. Schiavone captured her fifth career WTA title with Saturday’s triumph and her first since the 2010 French. She’ll open her stay in Paris next week with a first-round match against Japanese veteran Kimiko Date-Krumm.

The Italian seems to save her best performances for French Open and by finding her most impressive form in Strasbourg, she may once again prove to be a formidable competitor at this year’s championship. The current world number fourteen who at one point held the number four spot, is coming to the end of her career and so this could well be one of her last chances to grab a second grand slam victory before it is too late.

FOCUS ON SCHIAVONE

April 30, 2012

Francesca Schiavone born in the year 1980 became a professional only in the year 1988. She was born in Italy and is an Italian professional player. Francesca Shiavone won the 2012 FRENCH Open singles title and this win made her the first Italian women to win a Grand slam event in singles. Next in the 2011 French Open she was a runner up. As on 2012, 16th of April Francesca Shiavone is ranked world number 12.

Francesca  started her 2011 journey with the Hopman Cup but then retired with an injury against Kristina.  Francesca was seeded 5th in the 2011 Australian Open and she advanced to the quarter finals for the first time in her career.  At the 2011 Dubai Championship, she was seeded third but unfortunately she lost against Kuznetsova in the 16th round. Going ahead to the 2011 Qatar Ladies Open Francesca Schiavone lost against Peng Shuai again in the 16t round.  Francesca Shiavone also participated in the 2011 Malaysian Open, 2011 Grand Prix, 2011 Mutua Madrid Open and other but failed to become a champion or completely win any of these tournaments.  In the US Open, Francesca lost in the fourth round while in the China Open Francesca won in the first round but again lost in the second round.

Starting the year 2012, the season started at the Brisbane International where Francesca Shiavone reached the semi finals.  She eventually lost to championship Kaia Kanepi . Francesca also struggled while playing the Fed Cup losing to Lesia. Francesca continued to play the mini cup IN BOTH Doha and Dubai losing in both of them in the seventh seed. As much as she tried the clay courts were just not built for Francesca Shiavone because she came close in many tournaments but could not win any.

ITALY LOSE TO CZECH ATTACK

April 23, 2012

Lucie Safarova and Petra Kvitova led their nation, the Czech Republic, to a 2-0 lead over Italy in their Federation cup semi final tie.

Safarova was able to get the better of her opponent in the ties first match beating Schiavone two sets to love. However the Italian did put up a fight with the first set being forced to a tie breaker which Safarova was able to win. Kvitova then tightened her Nations grip on the tie by also downing her opponent Sara Errani, two sets to nothing.

The Italian team, which has showed strong form throughout the season, now has an uphill battle in order to stay in the tournament.

The Czech team now only needs one more win to clinch the tie and make an Italian fight back impossible. The players will now swap opponents and play in the reverse singles with a win in either securing the tie for the Czech Republic. If however the Italians do pull off an upset and win both matches then the tie will come down to the doubles match.

Continue