Muguruza hails ‘spectacular’ Schiavone
Champ beats Italian to reach second round
PARIS: Holder Garbine Muguruza saluted the incredible longevity of Francesca Schiavone after defeating the veteran Italian in a first-round battle of French Open champions yesterday.
Spaniard Muguruza, who won her maiden Grand Slam title at Roland Garros last year, swept aside 2010 champion Schiavone 6-2, 6-4.
“I cannot believe in the first round we have two ex-champions. Not only that but Francesca is a legend and I was very excited to play on Philippe Chatrier court with her,” said Muguruza.
“She has been on the tour for such a long time, and when I look back on some videos, I heard her name since I’m, like, I don’t know how old.
“She’s still playing. She’s fitter than most of the players. I’m, like, how is it possible? I think she loves it. She kind of enjoys out there.”
The fourth seed admitted Schiavone’s surprise 2010 final victory over Sam Stosur was a fond memory.
“I saw her match in the final here, and I kind of like it. I was happy that she won the French Open at that time,” said Muguruza.
However, the 23-year-old doesn’t believe she can emulate Schiavone, who turns 37 next month, in terms of a career spanning two decades.
“I don’t see myself playing at 36 with that shape. I think she has a spectacular body, also, to be able to do that.
“I don’t know if my body can handle with how many injuries I have, and I’m 23. So it’s going to be tough.”
Schiavone reached the quarter-finals on her French Open debut in 2001, with this year’s appearance her 17th in a row in the main draw.
A year after winning her lone Grand Slam title, Schiavone returned to the final at Roland Garros only to lose to China’s Li Na.
The Italian outlined in January her plan to retire at the end of the season, but she conceded there was still a chance she could postpone her farewell.
“You never know. For the moment, I want to live this moment this year. I have to see how I feel physically,” said the Italian.
“You know, it’s not easy to wake up and run again for six hours and push yourself. But we will see. I think after US Open I will ask myself what I want to do.”
In the men’s singles first round, Canadian fifth seed Milos Raonic raced into round two with a routine 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 victory over Steve Darcis of Belgium.
Raonic, whose best run at the French Open came when he made the 2014 quarter-finals, fired 15 aces and 44 winners to book a meeting with Mikhail Youzhny of Russia or Brazil’s Rogerio Dutra Silva.
YESTERDAY’S RESULTS (x denotes seeding) First round Men’s singles
Milos Raonic (CAN x5) bt Steve Darcis (BEL) 6-3, 6-4, 6-2
Jiri Vesely (CZE) bt Jack Sock (USA x14) 7-5, 7-5, 6-3 Roberto Bautista Agut (ESP x17) bt John Millman (AUS) 6-2, 6-2, 0-6, 6-1
Nikoloz Basilashvili (GEO) bt Gilles Simon (FRA x31) 1-6, 6-2, 6-4, 6-1
Steve Johnson (USA x25) bt Yuichi Sugita (JPN) 6-3, 6-3, 6-7 (4/7), 6-7 (3/7), 6-3
Women’s singles
Caroline Wozniacki (DEN x11) bt Jaimee Fourlis (AUS) 6-4, 3-6, 6-2
Kiki Bertens (NED x18) bt Ajla Tomljanovic (AUS) 4-6, 6-1, 6-1
Zhang Shuai (CHN x32) bt Donna Vekic (CRO) 7-5, 6-4 Garbiñe Muguruza (ESP x4) bt Francesca Schiavone (ITA) 6-2, 6-4
Yulia Putintseva (KAZ x27) bt Myrtille Georges (FRA) 6-3, 6-0
Richel Hogenkamp (NED) bt Jelena Jankovic (SRB) 6-2, 7-5