Francesca Schiavone facts for kids
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Schiavone at the 2017 Aegon International Eastbourne
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| Country (sports) |  Italy |
|---|---|
| Residence | Milan, Lombardy |
| Born | 23 June 1980 Milan |
| Height | 1.66 m (5 ft 5 in) |
| Turned pro | 1998 |
| Retired | 2018 |
| Plays | Right (one-handed backhand) |
| Prize money | $11,324,245 |
| Official website | schiavonefrancesca.com |
| Singles | |
| Career record | 614–479 (56.18%) |
| Career titles | 8 |
| Highest ranking | No. 4 (31 January 2011) |
| Grand Slam singles results | |
| Australian Open | QF (2011) |
| French Open | W (2010) |
| Wimbledon | QF (2009) |
| US Open | QF (2003, 2010) |
| Other tournaments | |
| Tour Finals | RR (2010) |
| Olympic Games | QF (2004) |
| Doubles | |
| Career record | 224–205 (52.21%) |
| Career titles | 7 |
| Highest ranking | No. 8 (12 February 2007) |
| Grand Slam doubles results | |
| Australian Open | SF (2009) |
| French Open | F (2008) |
| Wimbledon | SF (2012) |
| US Open | SF (2006) |
| Other doubles tournaments | |
| Tour Finals | SF (2006) |
| Olympic Games | QF (2008) |
| Team competitions | |
| Fed Cup | W (2006, 2009, 2010), record 27–22 |
Francesca Schiavone (born June 23, 1980) is a famous Italian former tennis player. She became a professional player in 1998. Francesca made history by winning the 2010 French Open singles title. She was the first Italian woman to win a major tennis tournament called a Grand Slam in singles.
She also reached the final at the 2011 French Open. Her highest ranking was world No. 4, which she achieved on January 31, 2011. Francesca is known for her special one-handed backhand shot. She is the last woman to win a Grand Slam title using this type of backhand.
Francesca won a total of eight singles titles during her career. Seven of these were on the WTA Tour. In doubles, she reached world No. 8. She also helped Italy win the Fed Cup three times: in 2006, 2009, and 2010. She holds the record for the most wins for the Italian team.
Francesca played in the longest women's singles match ever at a Grand Slam. This happened at the 2011 Australian Open. She beat Svetlana Kuznetsova in a match that lasted 4 hours and 44 minutes! This long match helped her reach the quarterfinals of the Australian Open for the first time.
On September 5, 2018, Francesca Schiavone announced she was retiring from tennis. She shared her dream of winning a Grand Slam as a coach someday. In April 2021, she started coaching Petra Martić.
Contents
Playing as a Professional
Francesca Schiavone won eight singles titles and was a runner-up eleven times. She won her first title in July 2007, after losing her first eight finals.
Winning the Fed Cup
Francesca and her Italian teammates Mara Santangelo, Flavia Pennetta, and Roberta Vinci won the 2006 Fed Cup. They beat the Belgian team 3-2. This was Italy's first Fed Cup trophy! Francesca also won the Fed Cup with Italy again in 2009 and 2010.
Big Wins
Francesca had some impressive wins against top players. In 2008, she beat world No. 1 Justine Henin at the Dubai Open. She also defeated Amélie Mauresmo in 2006 when Mauresmo was ranked No. 1.
In doubles, Francesca reached the final of the 2008 French Open with her partner Casey Dellacqua. They finished as runners-up. She also made it to the semifinals in doubles at the other three Grand Slam tournaments.
2010: Her First Major Title
At the 2010 French Open, Francesca was seeded 17th. Not many people expected her to win. She beat several strong players, including the 11th seed Li Na. She then defeated world No. 3, Caroline Wozniacki. This made her the first Italian woman to reach the semifinals of a Grand Slam singles event.
In the semifinals, Francesca played against Elena Dementieva. Francesca won when Dementieva had to stop playing due to an injury. This victory meant Francesca was the first Italian woman to reach a Grand Slam final. It also guaranteed she would enter the top ten players in the world for the first time.
In the final, Francesca faced Samantha Stosur. Stosur was considered the favorite because she had beaten many top players. But on June 5, 2010, Francesca surprised everyone! She won the match 6-4, 7-6. This made her the first Italian woman to win a Grand Slam singles title. She also became the oldest woman to win a first Grand Slam title in the Open Era. After this win, she rose to No. 6 in the world rankings. She became the highest-ranked Italian woman ever.
Later in 2010, Francesca reached the quarterfinals of the US Open. She also made it to the semifinals of the Pan Pacific Open. She competed in the season-ending Tour Championships for the first time.
2011: Reaching New Heights
Francesca started 2011 at the Hopman Cup. At the 2011 Australian Open, she reached the quarterfinals for the first time. She had an amazing match against Svetlana Kuznetsova in the fourth round. The match lasted almost five hours! Francesca saved six match points before winning. After this tournament, she reached her highest ranking of world No. 4. This was the highest ranking ever for an Italian woman.
Francesca continued to play well on clay courts, which is her favorite surface. She was the defending champion at the 2011 French Open. She played very strongly and reached the final again! However, she lost to Li Na in a tough match.
At Wimbledon, she reached the third round. She also played in other tournaments like the Canadian Open and the US Open.
2012: A Challenging Year
Francesca started 2012 at the Brisbane International, reaching the semifinals. She played for Italy in the Fed Cup, helping her team reach the semifinals.
She faced some tough losses in early rounds of several tournaments. However, she found her form just before the French Open. She won the Strasbourg tournament, which was a great boost.
At the 2012 French Open, she reached the third round. At Wimbledon, she made it to the fourth round in singles. She also reached the semifinals in doubles with her partner Flavia Pennetta. Francesca played at the Olympics, winning her first match.
How Francesca Played Tennis
Francesca Schiavone had a unique playing style. She used an "all-court game," meaning she could play well from anywhere on the court. She was especially good on clay courts. She used a special grip for her one-handed backhand shot. Her forehand shot was also very powerful.
Sponsors and Gear
Throughout her career, Francesca was sponsored by different companies. She wore clothing and shoes from Diadora, then Lotto, Adidas, and finally Asics. For her tennis racquets, she used Yonex at first. Later, she switched to Babolat racquets, using the Pure Aero model until she retired.
About Her Life
Francesca Schiavone was born in Milan, Italy. Her father, Franco Schiavone, is from a town called Manocalzati in Southern Italy. Her mother, Luiscita Minelli, is from Bornato in Northern Italy.
Images for kids
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Schiavone at the 2012 French Open
See also
In Spanish: Francesca Schiavone para niños
