Quarter-final Preview: Francesca Schiavone vs. Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova – French Open 2011
Women’s quarter-finals are about to take off at the French Open on Tuesday, May 31st and all eyes are fixed upon the first clash taking place among the world number five, Francesca Schiavone of Italy and the 14th seed Russian, Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova.
The contest is highly anticipated as the defending champion, Schiavone, takes on the belligerent Russian for a place in the semis of the second Grand Slam tournament of the year.
The 30-year-old Italian veteran has been in superb form in this year’s Roland Garros and has powered her to the final eight of the tournament. She took down the world number 10, Jelena Jankovic of Serbia, in an exciting three-set thriller 6-3, 2-6, 6-4, in the fourth round encounter to meet Pavlyuchenkova in the quarter-finals. Schiavone won three of her initial round matches in straight sets, devastating every opponent she faced on her way to the round of eight.
The resilient Russian has also had a magnificent run in the tournament so far and made a huge upset by defeating her fellow compatriot, the world number three, Vera Zvonareva, 7-6(4), 2-6, 6-2, in the fourth round to make it to the quarter-final of Roland Garros. Her performances in the initial round matches are also very impressive and it appears to many tennis fans that Pavlyuchenkova is well on her way to clinch her first Grand Slam title.
The two contestants have met before on three occasions, with Schiavone leading the head-to-head series by 2-1. Their last meeting was held in the round of 16 of the US Open, where the Italian registering a straight sets victory over Pavlyuchenkova 6-3, 6-0, to qualify for the quarter-finals of the tournament. That last victory in the Grand Slam tournament must be at the back of the mind of Pavlyuchenkova when she steps against Schiavone on Tuesday and she might feel some pressure upon her while competing against the opponent who has already beaten her in their last encounter.
Schiavone has already won 17 matches in the running WTA (Women’s Tennis Association) season but has also suffered 12 defeats. Although she has failed to bag any singles title in this year, she is recognised to be the hot favourite for the Grand Slam event in Paris. With the top three players (Caroline Wozniacki, Kim Clijsters and Vera Zvonareva) out of the race to glory, it does not seem a difficult task for the world number five to keep the French Open title with her.
The Russian has won a singles championship title earlier this year, when she successfully defended her title at the Monterrey Open in March. Pavlyuchenkova has been in the winners’ circle this season but the Italian competitor has been observed to choke out in the big matches this year. The Russian might capitalise this weakness of Schiavone to take her down in the contest and with some early aggression, Pavlyuchenkova can exert pressure upon the defending champion.
Although Schiavone is already under immense psychological pressure of defending her Roland Garros title, the world number five is one of the most dangerous opponents to compete. Pavlyuchenkova might give some tough time to the Italian but Schiavone is still the hot favourite for winning the contest on Tuesday.
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