Draining ... Francesca Schiavone won the longest ever grand slam women's match. Photo: Reuters
Yesterday saw the longest women’s grand slam match of the open era between the French Open champion Francesca Schiavone over Svetlana Kuznetsova. The 6th seeded Italian saved six match points along the way as she triumphed over No 23 Kuznetsova 6-4, 1-6, 16-14 in muscle-cramping, mind-numbing duel that lasted 4 hours and 44 minutes. The longest (and most grueling), both in duration and games played, ever match in the history of women’s grand slam. In fact if you want to compare it, top-seeded Caroline Wozniacki has spent a total of 5 hours and 31 minutes in her four matches at the 2011 Australian Open while Schiavone has 1 game lasting 4 hours.
Francesca Schiavone might not be the most elegant player, or the best looking in her active wear, but she is definitely one of the toughest both physically and mentally as shown by her dominance over her opponent in a draining and most exhausting 47 games. At only 5ft 4 inches (1.66m), Schiavone can be considered petite in an era and sport where the top players are considerably taller. But she can definitely deliver the goods when it’s needed most. Kuznetsova confessed to a bit of brain fade during their three-hour third set where there was a stage she no longer had the idea of the score and who was serving. That was how mind-numbing the game really was.
Francesca would now be playing against top-seeded Caroline Wozniacki who she defeated in the quarterfinals in the 2010 French Open where she became the first Italian woman to ever win a Grand Slam singles title. Since then she has been defeated again by Wozniacki in the 2010 Rogers Cup. And it makes you wonder who will prevail in this semi-final where anything can happen, where the favorites does not really matter, only the game, the style, physical stamina and mental endurance, and take in this case, being indefatigable.
Francesca Schiavone might not be the most elegant player, or the best looking in her active wear, but she is definitely one of the toughest both physically and mentally as shown by her dominance over her opponent in a draining and most exhausting 47 games. At only 5ft 4 inches (1.66m), Schiavone can be considered petite in an era and sport where the top players are considerably taller. But she can definitely deliver the goods when it’s needed most. Kuznetsova confessed to a bit of brain fade during their three-hour third set where there was a stage she no longer had the idea of the score and who was serving. That was how mind-numbing the game really was.
Francesca would now be playing against top-seeded Caroline Wozniacki who she defeated in the quarterfinals in the 2010 French Open where she became the first Italian woman to ever win a Grand Slam singles title. Since then she has been defeated again by Wozniacki in the 2010 Rogers Cup. And it makes you wonder who will prevail in this semi-final where anything can happen, where the favorites does not really matter, only the game, the style, physical stamina and mental endurance, and take in this case, being indefatigable.
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