Tennis:A near-perfect tactical performance in the French Open final saw Francesca Schiavone become the first Italian woman ever to win a grand slam title. The claycourt specialist upset Sam Stosur 6-4 7-6 (7/2) in today's final at Roland Garros with some breathtaking play.
Schiavone was able to neutralise Stosur's kick serve and forehand, talked about so often in the build-up to the match, while her volleying at the net was excellent – in stark contrast to that of her opponent.
Stosur was forced onto her backhand side with great regularity, while Schiavone took her kick serve early whenever possible to prevent the ball climbing too high.
Her plan worked to perfection and she told the crowd in her acceptance speech: "I felt amazing today. I feel like a champion. I'm really, really happy."
The first set was hard-fought but Stosur was unable to shake off her opponent as many had predicted.
Serve held sway until the ninth game when the first break points arrived. At 0-40 Stosur saved two of them but then threw in an untimely double fault.
Schiavone, whose first-set, first-serve percentage was up at 75, duly held from 0-30 down to take a one-set lead.
Stosur threatened a fightback when she broke in the fourth game of the second set and opened a 4-1 lead.
However, the advantage did not last long. Schiavone, seeded 17, hit back in the seventh game to get it back on serve.
Stosur, who had beaten both pre-event favourite Justine Henin and world number one Serena Williams en route to the final, tried to pump herself up a shout on 'come on' greeting her moving 5-4 up but Schiavone refused to bend at the business end of the set.
Some fine serving from the Italian, who ended up out-aceing Stosur six to three, saw her into the tie-break where she showed the volleying skills that had served her so well throughout the contest.
A superb low, backhand volley brought up four championship points and only one was needed - a Schiavone backhand into the corner was framed by her opponent to leave the Italian celebrating an historic win.
As well as becoming the first Italian winner at the highest level, the 29-year-old is also the second oldest first-time winner of a Grand Slam singles title in the Open era.
Only Ann Jones was older and she had already won a Grand Slam prior to the professional era starting in 1969.