Roland Garros is certain to witness a new Grand Slam singles champion as maiden finalists Francesca Schiavone and Sam Stosur prepare to do battle
Stosur makes a confident start with a love service game to open the final as she bids to become the first Australian woman to win a Grand Slam singles title for 30 years
But Schiavone, the first Italian woman ever to appear in a Grand Slam singles final, doesn't show any sign of nerves either and the first set is a closely-fought and high-quality affair
The ebullient Schiavone makes light of her underdog status against the world number seven and breaks first at 4-4
Stosur saves one set point with a series of brutal forehands but Schiavone takes it on the second to take control of an absorbing match
Schiavone's supporters sense an historic victory as the world number 17 earns two break points in the third game of the second set
Stosur saves both though and jumps out into a 3-1 lead, her serve and forehand finally punching some holes in Schiavone's defence
But Schiavone holds her nerve and reels off three games in a row to draw level before the set goes to a tie-break climax
And the Italian plays it almost perfectly, a string of beautifully executed points keeping Stosur off balance. The Italian claims her first Grand Slam title after one hour and 38 minutes
Stosur struggles to hold back the tears after picking up her runners-up plate from 2000 champion Mary Pierce
Schiavone looks like she will never stop smiling as she celebrates becoming the first Italian woman to win a major singles title and the second oldest first-time winner of a Grand Slam trophy
What are these?
E-mail this to a friend 
Bookmark with:
What are these?