| 03 June 2010
It will be Sam Stosur versus Francesca Schiavone in the women's final at Roland Garros this Saturday. I have no doubt that in all the years of Grand Slam finals, this one takes the cake as the most unlikely ever. Yes, ever. I challenge anyone to come up with a more surprising pair that the Stosur/Schiavone combo that is about to take place.
In Stosur we have a 26-year old Aussie who has been known for most of her career as a doubles-specialist. She is a former world number-one doubles player who teamed with American Lindsay Raymond in winning the 2005 U.S. Open and 2006 French Open titles. She completes the career-slam in mixed doubles with a win at the Aussie Open in 2005 and at Wimbledon in 2008. Never before has she reached a Grand Slam singles final and her 2009 semi-final appearance at Roland Garros was the first time she ever surpassed the fourth round in singles Slam-play.
Stosur becomes the first Australian woman to make the finals here since Evonne Goolagong in 1980 and if she wins she will be the first Aussie to do so since Margaret Court back in 1973. She will become the number-six ranked player in the world should she emerge victorious this weekend.
Stosur's route to the finals includes the following results:
1st Round - d. Simona Halep 7-5, 6-1
2nd Round - d. Rossana De Los Rios 4-6, 6-1, 6-0
3rd Round - d. Anastasia Pivovarova 6-3, 6-2
4th Round - d. Justin Henin 2-6, 6-1, 6-4
Quarters - d. Serena Williams 6-2, 6-7(2), 8-6
Semis - d. Jelena Jankovic 6-1, 6-2
So to what can we attribute this incredible run that includes victories over former champs Justine Henin, Serena Williams, and former U.S. Open finalist Jelena Jankovic?
Looking at Stosur it is obvious that she spends a great deal of time on her physical fitness. Not an ounce of fat seems to be visible on her muscular physique. A 14-2 record on clay in 2010 coming into the French Open reveals a player who is confident and hitting her stride on the surface. Stosur has also decided to dedicate herself more towards singles competition after a break-out 2009 on tour where she captured her first singles title against none other than Schiavone in Osaka, Japan. That was their last encounter and Stosur prevailed in straight sets, 7-5, 6-1.
The two also incredibly met a year ago at the French Open, but in the first round. Talk about the difference a year can make. Stosur won that match 6-4, 6-2 with relative ease and a similar result is expected on Saturday, although nobody can count out Schiavone after her terrific run so far this year.
Asked about their first-round encounter at this tournament a year ago, Stosur had the following to say:
"Yeah, it's quite funny we played each other first round last year and now we're both in the finals. I don't actually remember that much about that match. I know it was cold and wet and whatever. I got through it.
We also played the final of the tournament in Osaka at the end of the year last year, as well. That was the last time we played. We've had a lot of matches against each other. I think we both have a very good way about the way each other play. We're both going to be excited. It's a great opportunity for both of us. I'm just looking forward to it."
At 29 years-old, Schiavone is the epitome of the veteran who finally breaks-through. To give you an idea of how long she has been around, she made the quarter-finals of the French Open in 2001 where she lost to Martina Hingis. Schiavone becomes the first Italian woman to ever make the finals of a Grand Slam tournament, and is the first woman from her country to crack the top ten - which she accomplishes regardless of the end-result in Paris.
Her path to the finals is as follows:
1st Round - d. Regina Kulikova 5-7, 6-3, 6-4
2nd Round - d. Sophie Ferguson 6-2, 6-2
3rd Round - d. Na Li 6-4, 6-2
4th Round - d. Maria Kirilenko 6-4, 6-4
Quarters - d. Caroline Wozniacki 6-2, 6-3
Semis - d. Elena Dementieva 7-6(3), Ret.
No matter the outcome on Saturday, both players will be going through similar feelings about their first Grand Slam final. Stosur eluded to this when she said, "Yeah, I could probably think no matter what I'm feeling she's probably thinking it too, so it's a different new situation for both of us. Who knows how we're both gonna feel. I'm sure there's gonna be some nerves out there, and I'm ready for that. I'll try and prepare myself as best I can to handle anything that happens. But, yeah, I mean she hasn't gone through it before either, so that's probably a little bit comforting."
Check out the enjoyable post-match press conference with Schianove and the transcript with Stosur as well.
Neither of these players has anything to lose, so a closely fought match will hopefully reveal itself Saturday. It is the opportunity of a lifetime for both Stosur and Schiavone and one of them still has another victory to add to their improbable run in Paris.
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