Low-key return for champion Schiavone
Francesca Schiavone made a low-key return to Roland Garros on Sunday where, 12 months ago, she became the first Italian woman to win a Grand Slam title.
Francesca Schiavone made a low-key return to Roland Garros on Sunday where, 12 months ago, she became the first Italian woman to win a Grand Slam title.
Unlike men's champion Rafael Nadal, or fellow men's heavyweights Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic, the 30-year-old Italian's opening press conference only detained the English-speaking press for two questions.
"Some of the fans said to me: 'Give us another trophy'," said Schiavone, who is getting used to making her Grand Slam mark, having also played out the longest singles match at a major at January's Australian Open.
There it took her 4hr 44min to see off Svetlana Kuznetsova, coming through 16-14 in the final set.
Schiavone hinted that she has yet to be convinced by the French Open's policy of starting on a Sunday; the only one of the three majors not to begin on a Monday.
"There is no choice from the players. It's business or some decision from higher than us."