MELBOURNE – The star of the show did not win. Yes, she won the crowd of 15,000 at the Australian Open. And she won the praise of her colleagues, foremost among them No. 1 Caroline Wozniacki. But it was time to go home for the Italian pixie, Francesca Schiavone, the end of one of the more adverturous runs at a major title. It was Francesca’s afternoon Tuesday even though … [Read more...] about WINNING IS OK, BUT LOSER FRANCESCA OFTEN CAPTIVATES AS THE DEFEATED PLAYER
Francesca Schiavone
IT SEEMED LIKE FOREVER AS SCHIAVONE AND KUZNETSOVA TRAVEL A 4:44 ROUTE
MELBOURNE – A couple of very nice young ladies went out to play a game of tennis at Melbourne Park Sunday. They’d done it before. Twelve times over eight years. But they weren’t ready for what happened – something that had never happened in the history of the Australian Open. They would play, and play, and play. And play some more. Plus quite a bit more – wondering if … [Read more...] about IT SEEMED LIKE FOREVER AS SCHIAVONE AND KUZNETSOVA TRAVEL A 4:44 ROUTE
“LA LIONESSA” IS EATING HER WAY THROUGH THE DRAW
NEW YORK – A lioness is on the loose at a local public park called the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. Stay out of the way. Four women didn’t, and the lioness, who speaks Italian, and deals Baroque spin, dined on them and is prowling the quarter-finals of the US Open. Called “La Lionessa” by compatriots for her quickness to pounce and competitive ferociousness, … [Read more...] about “LA LIONESSA” IS EATING HER WAY THROUGH THE DRAW
HISTORIC CHAMPIONSHIP: FRANCESCA SCHIAVONE IS THE ONLY ITALIAN WOMAN TO WIN A MAJOR
Paris – Don’t stand too close to a lion. You might get bit. A nice young woman a long way from home, Aussie Samantha Stosur, found that out Saturday as 14,845 tennis devotees shrieked, clapped, howled and flapped the flags of Italy and Australia in wild disbelief while the new champion of France was sharpening her teeth, both participants playing in their first major … [Read more...] about HISTORIC CHAMPIONSHIP: FRANCESCA SCHIAVONE IS THE ONLY ITALIAN WOMAN TO WIN A MAJOR