2011 French Open: Francesca Schiavone defeats Melanie Oudin in first round
Defending champion, Francesca Schiavone from Italy got off to a strong start in her title defence at the 2011 Roland Garros on Monday when she successfully did away with American Melanie Oudin in straight sets, 6-2, 6-0.
The first rung on the title defence ladder, Schiavone rushed past the American in straight sets taking only sixty two minutes. The Italian closed the opener with a loss of only two games before moving ahead to seal her victory with a bagel in the second set.
Meeting the American for the fourth time in her career, Schiavone comfortably rose to a 3-1 lead in the head-to-head series. Oudin’s only win against the Italian had come in their last meeting in the Fed Cup Final when Italy played America. However, the Italian continues to hold a perfect 2-0 winning streak against the American on clay, having defeated her once before in the Fed Cup Final of 2009.
Opening play at the Philippe Chatrier, the defending champion dominated her opponent from the start denying her any chance to find her footing. Holding her opening serve plausibly, Schiavone raced into a 3-0 lead breaking Oudin’s serve expertly in the second set.
Although the American finally put herself on the scoreboard in the fourth game, it was to no avail. Winning games on service games from thereon, Schiavone was able to clinch a 6-2 victory for herself. Though the Italian hit less of her first serves on the mark (68%) as compared to the American (85%), she was able to clinch almost double the percentage of points on it.
Enjoying a one set lead in the match, Schiavone unleashed her full fury in the second set. Denying the American any opportunity to make it onto the scoreboard, the Italian successfully broke her opponent thrice to secure a bagel victory for herself taking only thirty minutes.
Successfully ousting Oudin, Schiavone now moves on ahead to play either Russian Vesna Dolonts or English Anne Keothavong.
Following Schiavone on the courts, is the unstoppable Serb Novak Djokovic who currently leads Dutch Theimo De Bakker 1-0 in the set score, having closed the opener at 6-2 with utmost ease.
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