It began with some loud tennis fans shouting out the names of the shots sixth-seeded Italian Francesca Schiavone hit during her warm-up - the noise-makers weren't always correct - and ended with the reigning French Open champion prevailing over Spain's Arantxa Parra Santonja, 6-7 6-2 6-4.Head-to-head Schiavone and world No. 68 Parra Santonja were evenly matched - each had won a match against the other- but the last time they played was more than six years ago so anything could have happened.
The cool, windy conditions on Margaret Court Arena did not affect the routine nature of the match in the first set as every game went on serve, leading to a tiebreak.
The Spaniard took advantage of opening the breaker, and quickly raced to a 5-1 lead after the Italian ran out of luck at the net, watching as a shot blasted past her down the tramlines. Schiavone showed a glimmer of the fighting spirit which took her all the way at Roland Garros, winning three more points, but ultimately losing the tiebreak 7-4.
But dropping the first set was the inspiration Schiavone needed, and the world No. 7 regrouped with determination, flying into a 3-0 lead in the second set. Parra Santonja broke back but it wasn't enough to deter the Italian, who won the second set 6-2 in 41 minutes.
With victory in her sights, Schiavone became increasingly animated in the final set, jumping in celebration after winning a cross-court drop shot rally in her opening service game, which she held comfortably.
The sixth seed eventually closed out the match after two hours and 23 minutes.
Match Facts
- Schiavone hit 61 per cent of her first serves in, to Parra Santonja’s 35 per cent.
- Parra Santonja hit seven double faults while Schiavone hit four.
- Parra Santonja made 50 unforced errors and Schiavone 35.
- Schiavone converted five break points and Parra Santonja two.
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