Francesca Schiavone

Francesca Schiavone
Country (sports) Italy
ResidenceMilan, Lombardy
Born (1980-06-23) 23 June 1980 (age 44)
Milan
Height1.66 m (5 ft 5 in)
Turned pro1998
Retired2018
PlaysRight (one-handed backhand)
Prize money$11,324,245
Official websiteschiavonefrancesca.com
Singles
Career record614–479
Career titles8
Highest rankingNo. 4 (31 January 2011)
Grand Slam singles results
Australian OpenQF (2011)
French OpenW (2010)
WimbledonQF (2009)
US OpenQF (2003, 2010)
Other tournaments
Tour FinalsRR (2010)
Olympic GamesQF (2004)
Doubles
Career record224–205
Career titles7
Highest rankingNo. 8 (12 February 2007)
Grand Slam doubles results
Australian OpenSF (2009)
French OpenF (2008)
WimbledonSF (2012)
US OpenSF (2006)
Other doubles tournaments
Tour FinalsSF (2006)
Olympic GamesQF (2008)
Team competitions
Fed CupW (2006, 2009, 2010),
record 27–22

Francesca Schiavone (Italian pronunciation: [franˈtʃeska skjaˈvoːne];[1][2] born 23 June 1980) is an Italian former tennis player. She turned professional in 1998 and won the 2010 French Open singles title, becoming the first Italian woman to win a Grand Slam event in singles. She was also runner-up at the 2011 French Open. Her career-high ranking is world No. 4, achieved on 31 January 2011. To date, Schiavone is the last one-handed backhand player to win a Grand Slam title on the women's tour.[3][4]

She won eight career singles titles in total, seven on the WTA Tour and one at Roland Garros. In doubles, her career-high ranking is world No. 8, peaking with an appearance in the final of the 2008 French Open. Furthermore, she helped Italy to win the Fed Cup in 2006, 2009 and 2010, and has the most wins for the Italian team.

Schiavone played in the longest ever women's singles match at a Grand Slam tournament, when she defeated Svetlana Kuznetsova 6–4, 1–6, 16–14 in the fourth round of the 2011 Australian Open women's singles draw, the match lasted 4 hours and 44 minutes and in the process secured her first and only quarterfinal at the Australian Open.[5]

On 5 September 2018, Schiavone announced her retirement from tennis at the US Open. During the announcement, she shared aspirations of winning a Grand Slam as a coach.[6] In April 2021, Schiavone began coaching Petra Martić.[7]

  1. ^ Luciano Canepari. "Francesca". DiPI Online (in Italian). Retrieved 21 October 2018.
  2. ^ Luciano Canepari. "Schiavone". DiPI Online (in Italian). Retrieved 21 October 2018.
  3. ^ "Ann Jones was 30 years, 8 months when she won Wimbledon in 1969". Archived from the original on 9 June 2010. Retrieved 26 June 2019.
  4. ^ "Celebrations start early for Schiavone - Roland-Garros - The 2018 French Open official site".
  5. ^ Ubha, Ravi (23 January 2011). "Record-setter headlines crazy day". ESPN. Retrieved 14 May 2018.
  6. ^ "Francesca Schiavone announces retirement at US Open". U.S. Open. 5 September 2018. Retrieved 5 September 2018.
  7. ^ "Schiavone rientra dopo il tumore: Farà l'allenatrice di Petra Martic". 14 April 2021.