Francesca Schiavone became the first Italian woman to win a Grand Slam singles title when she defeated Sam Stosur at the 2010 French Open. Born in Milan in 1980, she competed professionally for nearly two decades, establishing herself as a formidable presence in the Women's Tennis Association rankings and representing Italy in international team competitions.
Professional Ascent and Major Breakthrough
Schiavone achieved a career-high world ranking of No. 4 in singles and No. 8 in doubles. Her path to professional success involved overcoming early setbacks; she lost her first eight career WTA Tour finals before securing her first title in July 2007. Her 2010 triumph at Roland Garros was a significant milestone, as she remains the last player to win a major women's singles title using a one-handed backhand.
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As a cornerstone of the Italian national team, Schiavone contributed to Fed Cup victories in 2006, 2009, and 2010. She holds the record for the most match wins for the Italian team. Beyond team efforts, she represented her country at the 2004, 2008, and 2012 Summer Olympics. Her service to sport was recognized through several state honors, including being named a Knight and later a Commander of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic.
Notable Records and Coaching
In the fourth round of the 2011 Australian Open, Schiavone participated in the longest women's singles match in the history of the majors, defeating Svetlana Kuznetsova 6–4, 1–6, 16–14 after four hours and forty-four minutes of play. Following her retirement from competitive play at the 2018 US Open, she transitioned into a coaching role, including working with Petra Martić starting in April 2021.
Fast facts
- Born: 1980, Milan, Italy
- Career-high singles ranking: No. 4
- French Open singles champion: 2010
- Fed Cup titles with Italy: 2006, 2009, 2010
- Languages spoken: Italian, English
- Awards: Commander of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic (2010)
- Retirement announcement: 2018 US Open
Questions readers ask
What record does Schiavone hold for match duration?
She played the longest women's singles match at a major, lasting 4 hours and 44 minutes, during the 2011 Australian Open.
How many Grand Slam singles titles did she win?
She won one Grand Slam singles title, the 2010 French Open.
Achievements
- Knight of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic
- Commander of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic
- bronze medal for athletic prowess
- Competed at the 2004 Summer Olympics
- Competed at the 2008 Summer Olympics
- Competed at the 2012 Summer Olympics
