From Staff Reports
(May 17, 2011) Just a day after the death of her fiancé, Virginie Razzano said she will still compete in the French Open.
Razzano’s fiancé and former coach, 32-year-old Stephane Vidal, was diagnosed with a brain tumor nine years ago and passed away Monday, according to the Associated Press.
Just days before Vidal’s death, Razzano told the L’Equipe newspaper that he told her she had to play.
"Four or five days ago, I asked him: 'Do you want me to go and play at Roland Garros?'," Razzano said in an Associated Press article. "He answered: 'Yes, you need to play.' Because his intention is that I keep on going in my life; that I play for him and that I continue to be strong and to fight."
She said that Vidal never told her of his deteriorating condition and he convinced her to play in France’s Fed Cup tie against Spain in April.
"The most beautiful thing we achieved in our lives was not a match," she said. "We were a couple, but we became one person."
Razzano said she had a “very difficult” childhood before she met Vidal, and his influence has given her the strength to go on.
"It's hard, but thanks to the strength he gave me I'm still alive," Razzano said.