Francesca Schiavone
Francesca Schiavone (Italian pronunciation: [franˈtʃeska skjaˈvoːne]; 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.
Schiavone at the 2017 Aegon International Eastbourne | |
| 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 (56.2%) |
| 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 (52.2%) |
| 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 |
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.
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. In April 2021, Schiavone began coaching Petra Martić.