Schiavone Ends Slump with Strasbourg Title

By Erik Gudris                         Photo Credit: AP Photo/Cedric Joubert

(May 26th, 2012) For Francesca Schiavone, she may be feeling as she puts it "the emotion" once again just in time for the biggest clay court event of the season. The Italian ended her recent slump with a title run in Strasbourg.

Schiavone, who had a dismal 8-14 record going into this week's Strasbourg International, has finally found some form heading into Roland Garros as she came away with the title in Strasbourg this afternoon over France's Alize Cornet.

It was the Italian who jumped out to an early 2-0 lead and had a chance to go up a double break before Cornet recovered to hold serve and then break Schiavone back. But Schiavone once again assumed the momentum and served for the set at 5-2.

However Schiavone was broken again for 5-3 but went on to serve out the set on her next chance. The second set was much closer until Schiavone earned the important break to go up 5-4. From there it was no trouble for the Italian as she hit a serve Cornet couldn't handle to win 6-4, 6-4 and with her first title of the year and fifth overall in her career.

"In this tournament, in the most important moments, I was there. It has been a long time since I've felt that," Schiavone said later. "It's a great feeling and I want to keep going this way. I'm happy again. I'm feeling the sensation of fighting and feeling the pain, and really enjoying my game again."

Schiavone, who won Paris in 2010 and reached the finals last year, enters Roland Garros as the No. 14 seed at the women's event and is scheduled to face Kimiko Date-Krumm in the first round.