By Richard Pagliaro | Wednesday, September 5, 2018
"The heart I think need dreams every day of the life," said Francesca Schiavone announcing her retirement today.
Photo credit: Roland Garros Facebook
NEW YORK—Francesca Schiavone realized her major dream in the city of light and closed the curtain on her career in the city of never ending night.
The 38-year-old Schiavone announced her official retirement at the US Open today capping a brilliant career that saw her capture eight career singles titles, including the 2010 Roland Garros, reach a career-high rank of No. 4 and earn more than $11 million in prize money.
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"When I was 18 years old, I had two dreams," said Schiavone, who registered a 614-479 career record. "First one was to win Roland Garros, and the second I was to become top 10 in the world. I accomplish that. So I'm very, very happy and lucky that, as we say in Italia, 'It's done. This part is done.'
"After 20 years of career and life, I have new dreams. The heart I think need dreams every day of the life. My new dream is to come here with a player and to be in a Grand Slam as a coach. Be fantastic emotion for me. For sure, to help some players to reach them goals."
A stylish shotmaker, Schiavone contested at least the quarterfinals in all four Grand Slam tournaments.
In a stirring display of all-court acumen, guile and guts, the 17th-seeded Schiavone became the first Italian woman to win a Grand Slam championship, surprising Samantha Stosur, 6-4, 7-6 (2), to capture the 2010 Roland Garros title.
The inspired Italian knocked off four top-15-ranked players in straight sets—Li Na, Caroline Wozniacki, Elena Dementieva and Stosur—and remains the last woman with a one-handed backhand to raise a Grand Slam singles trophy.
Eighteen days removed from her 30th birthday, three years after she won the first title of her career and virtually a lifetime spent dreaming about a moment that sometimes seemed as close as a lob nestled atop the Eiffel Tower, Schiavone whipped a topspin backhand that rattled off Stosur's racquet on championship point.
Schiavone cites Italian opera as her favorite music and played the Paris final as if channeling a championship chorus in her head, hitting all the right notes in a virtuoso victory.
An emotionally expressive player, she started the day in tears of fear over the final and ended it singing her lungs out in joy.
"I felt many emotions this morning," Schiavone said after her major triumph. "I was crying and I couldn't take the car. I said (to my coach), 'You go coach to play.' I tried to stay focused on my play, to just play and to enjoy, to really enjoy from the heart. Expectation (of winning?), no, dream always. When I was younger always dreaming to win this tournament and now it's time to enjoy it."
Few players seemed to enjoy the sweat and strain and exhilaration of the battle as much as Schiavone, who returned to the 2011 Paris final bowing to Li Na.
Rafael Nadal famously said clay-court tennis "requires the speed of a sprinter, sharp off the blocks, and the stamina of a marathon runner. You stop, start, stop, start. And you keep doing it over two, three, four sometimes as much as five hours."
Schiavone showed speed, stamina and spirited resilience in some of her most memorable major moments.
At the 2011 Australian Open, Schiavone lived up to her nickname "Lioness" fighting off six match points to finally subdue Svetlana Kuznetsova, 6-4, 1-6, 16-14 to prevail in four hours, 44 minutes — the longest women's Grand Slam match in Open Era history.
Exhaustion turned to elation in the end as the sixth-seeded Schiavone advanced to her first career Australian Open quarterfinal in 11 appearances Down Under.
During her run to the 2010 US Open quarterfinals, Schiavone famously compared her style of play to pizza—she dished out an appetizing style flavored by a variety of ingredients.
The 2010 French Open champion mixed a spicy menu of spins, speeds and heights in force-feeding opponents a diet of all-court uncertainty.
In an era of tall trees occupying the Top 10, the 5'6" Schiavone was completely unique. She didn't strong-arm her way through points, Schiavone was a spin doctor who could disorientate opponents dishing out heavy topspin that bounded shoulder high followed by low slice that slithered low near the shoelaces.
In an era where players call out coaches for tactical advice, Schiavone was a shrewd mid-match adjustor, adept at figuring out what you don’t like and giving you exactly that.
At her best Schiavone was an electrifying shotmaker combining the fearless feel of a pickpocket, the mesmerizing racquet skills of an illusionist and the creative courage to defy convention as she did pulling off one of the greatest tweeners ever seen on the US Open's original Grandstand court.
Even when she was wronged, Schiavone was refreshingly real.
When Chinese qualifier Lin Zhu declined to admit her stretch shot bounced on her side of the court before clearing the net in Indian Wells, Schiavone informed her opponent "This is going to TV. This is sport."
The animated Italian's all-court game was a wonder to watch and her willingness to knock down the barrier between athlete and audience made her one of the most compelling players of her time.
Schiavone exuded hunger, humanity and humor—sometimes within the space of a single match.
Suffering a severe thrashing at the hands of Serena Williams at the 2013 US Open, Schiavone showed the human touch reaching out for what we all need after a long, tough day a the office: a hug.
A devoted Fed Cup competitor, Schiavone posted a 27-22 singles record representing Italy and played on the 2006, 2009 and 2010 Fed Cup championship squads.
A champion who wore her heart on her sleeve plans to follow her heart and continue contributing to the sport as a coach working with juniors.
"I look sad, but I am happy, too," Schiavone said. "Tonight I will drink a good Champagne, for sure. It's already some months that I teach to kids, to young player, and I love it. I think when you do something with your heart, everything is coming, the answers are coming.
"And now is much clear. So I decide, I ask to US Open if they could give me this opportunity to say thanks and say good-bye."
Raise a glass of champagne—or a slice of pizza—or both to a true champion who brought so much fire, flavor and fun to the game.