Eastbourne AEGON International. June 12 2001. Francesca Schiavone

Francesca Schiavone

Q: What have your preparations been like for Wimbledon since the French?

Schiavone: I think I bring the rain. In one week I play four hours maybe.

Q: How do you feel about the grass? You’ve had different results on it.

Schiavone: You know that’s tennis. I try to work as hard as I can to feel good when I start Wimbledon but it’s not easy. Time is short but I take example from Rafa and from Roger that they are great on both surfaces. I try to follow them.

Q: Do you feel it’s difficult to go from one surface to the other?

Schiavone: Of course it’s difficult. Everybody feel the difference between clay and grass – it’s normal. But at the same time people say ‘how do you change your play’. You don’t have to change, you just use a different type of muscle. The most important thing is to have a good serve, a good return because the first and second ball can make the difference. You have to use your reaction much more on the grass for sure. It’s the small things that can make the difference.

Q: Do you go in to a Wimbledon with the same confidence that you do with a French Open?

Schiavone: On the clay, I arrive I was not in such a good shape because I played three tournaments that I couldn’t arrive at a semi final. I say come on. And then in French Open I start and was better and better so I hope to give to myself the chance to win the first round and then follow my way.

Q: What do you feel about the Williams sisters returning here this week?

Schiavone: It’s great to have them back I think not just for tennis but for us. They are champions, they are great athletes. They come back, it’s tough, it’s tough for everybody but it’s interesting because when you play with the big athletes, personally I like the fight, to give the best to win. It’s great.

Q: Do you think it takes the pressure of you a little bit? That all the focus is on them?

Schiavone: No. I think everybody have pressure in different ways. I don’t know if they have big pressure because they just arrive and they have nothing to lose. I know Serena and Venus when they come back they are ready to compete so maybe high pressure for them. But at the same time every match is pressure when you play tennis.

Q: Do you have any different physical preparation for the Wimbledon?

Schiavone: Yeah, I eat more hamburgers! No, that’s a joke. You have stay a little bit more down with the legs and be good reaction with the foot so I try to work on the exercise that can give me much more reaction in the low part.

Roland Garros June 4 2011 - Francesca Schiavone

N. LI/F. Schiavone

           

6‑4, 7‑6

           

           

FRANCESCA SCHIAVONE

            Q.  You made a great effort of comeback in the second set.  It was a great game.  Was it that you tried to change your styles and come to net often, play slice, topspin, a variety of game?  Was this your tactic all over the match, or how did you intend to deal with her speed of ball?

            FRANCESCA SCHIAVONE:  I think the match style that she played, really deep, so I couldn't play my spin really high so she could come in.  She played really high level through one set and 2‑1, 3‑1, she was playing really good.

            And then I tried to push more, to risk more, and she went down with the level.  But it's normal.  Tennis is always like this.

            I think at the end, we were really close and could be for me the set or for her.  But at the end, she won.  She deserve ‑‑ I think she deserve this final.  She fight a lot, and she played good also on the clay.

            Q.  It was a very tough match and a close one.  What do you think makes Li Na, what kind of shots or like skill makes her tough to play, her forehand or her serve or her backhand?

            FRANCESCA SCHIAVONE:  No, I thought she serve a good percentage of serve.  She prepared these kind of thing, because she didn't want to play the second ball to be attacked.  I think of course the backhand she can play much better in every part of the court.

            But today I saw with the forehand first set was deep, everything was going really close to the baseline.  She played good.

            Q.  You won the final last year, and you are in the final this year.  Was there pressure for you to play another final and be scared to lose this match?

            FRANCESCA SCHIAVONE:  No, no.  Why be scared to win, not to lose?

            No, I was ready to play intensive match.  I think today we played some amazing moment or great points.  No, always ready to take everything that can arrive.

            So no, I lived a good moment.  It's okay.  In life you can win; you can lose.  But was tough, and it's okay.

            Q.  She did today something similar to what you did last year in some ways.  You came from a tennis culture, from a Western way of life, and she's coming from China.  Do you appreciate or have any feelings about how big this is for her to be able to accomplish this and win a Grand Slam?

            FRANCESCA SCHIAVONE:  Yeah, of course.  I can imagine many people, China's people watching tennis.  I think it's important also from them to know the clay over there.  I think they are just hard courts.  This can be a good start for them.

            In Europe we know much more the clay.  Maybe is different between mentally or culturally between them and us.  But is good for them to start.

            Q.  Last year you played a hard hitter also, Samantha Stosur, and you kept her off balance from the beginning by playing clever and tricky shots.  This time it didn't seem like you tried to do that as much until the second set.  Was it because she was keeping you off balance, or why not?

            FRANCESCA SCHIAVONE:  Yeah, I think she keep me really far away from the net or inside the court, so I was always too defense.  With the slice was not easy because she has good timing and she has good preparation with the legs.

            But when she played a little bit short or I played a little bit more aggressive, she couldn't come in so easy.

            So it's a mix, I think, from the start until the score she played so good, and then I played higher level and she went a little bit down.

            Q.  I think you played her last year here.  She talked about her education and her improvement on clay.  Is she a different player on clay this year than before?  Do you sense any improvement in her game on any surface?

            FRANCESCA SCHIAVONE:  Yeah, she run much more in particular.  When I play really good in that side and then I played to the other side on forehand, she arrive with the legs before she was arriving and hitting the ball.

            Now she can arrive and hit one or two shot more.  That's big difference on the clay.  She slides a little bit more.  Yeah, can make, in some points, the difference for her, eh?

            Q.  She is rising the way you have been the last two year or two like you are up the rankings.  Do you feel she can be a No. 1 player?

            FRANCESCA SCHIAVONE:  I don't know.  Is open, but to be No. 1 you have really to win many, many matches, huh?  Not just one tournament, one Grand Slam.

            Maybe she has to win another one.  But everybody are hungry.  I don't know if she can win another one.  (Smiling.)

I'm joking.

            Q.  The overall deuce at 5‑6 clearly came at a big point.  Did you sort of feel like that kind of swung the momentum back in her way?

            FRANCESCA SCHIAVONE:  (Translation in Italian.)  I don't saw the ball.  If the ball is out, I call out.  Steal the ball.  If the ball is out, I call out.  If the ball is in, is in.  That's what they teach me from when I was young, and that's what I want to teach in the future to the other person, to the kids.

            So if I call the ball out, the percentage that I mistake, it's really, really low.  So if you explain me this is the mark and this is out and you explain me really the sign, I can believe you.

            But that ball, no.

            Q.  Good tournament.  A question about emotions and feelings.  In our sport there's victory and there's defeat.  Obviously last year, so much joy, such happiness; today, a feeling of loss.  Years from now, which do you think will have more impact?  How do you think they will compare?

            FRANCESCA SCHIAVONE:  The impact to win, it's a big difference than to lose.  But I'm happy to be here, because now I can ‑‑ I can feel much more what I did last year, much more.  To arrive close to win is different than to win.  Big different.

            But in the same time, I can say that to arrive in final is mean that I have always one chance to take a trophy.

            So the emotion are a lot, and sometimes you don't control it.  Sometimes you can control more.  So I'm happy to be here.  Doesn't matter win or lose, I want to live every moment.

            Q.  You just said you don't steal people.  Do you have the feeling you have been stolen from something today after this overrule?  And how important was it today in the outcome of the match?

            FRANCESCA SCHIAVONE:  No, one ball can't make the difference so much, but in that moment, you have to check really good the ball.  That's what I contest.

            After she decide that the ball was in, but I don't think can make the difference, because then I played other six, seven points. 

            Q.  After this ball you lost every point.

            FRANCESCA SCHIAVONE:  Yes.  (Laughter.)  What I have to say?  The true or I have to joke?

            Italian questions?  (Laughter.)

Roland Garros. June 3 2011 - Francesca Schiavone (pre - final press conference))

           

FRANCESCA SCHIAVONE

            Q.  Will you see Panda 2 next week, the film?

            FRANCESCA SCHIAVONE:  Ah, si, si, si.  Is coming the second one.  But I know that there are a lot of problems with the Chinese culture.  They said that they feel pissed because we are joking with their culture.  Did you read the paper?

            I read like this and was bad, because I think that movie cartoon can teach us not just for kids, but is for us, for other people.  So I hope is coming soon.

            Q.  You have been asked a lot about your age and how you were able to play so well at the ripe old age of 30.  Do you think it's good for tennis to have two women who are very experienced in this final?

            FRANCESCA SCHIAVONE:  I think is good, not just for tennis, but also for the younger players that are coming.  They can understand that the career is not just this moment or one, two, three years, but is long, so they have to control and to improve every day.  To be in the career is not so short like before.  So is good example, good input.

            Q.  There is a lot of speculation ‑ especially if Li should win ‑ the boom in China could really be very big.  How much did things change in Italy for tennis when you won last year?

            FRANCESCA SCHIAVONE:  Ah, change a lot.  Last year when I won French Open, the percentages of the people that sign in the tennis, tennis club, the young, the kids, are much higher than before.

            So that's good.  Of course, we are not millions and millions like in China, because we are totally ‑‑ how many we are?  Settanta millioni?  (Back and forth in Italian.)  70 million.  So it's big difference, but we are Italian.  We have big hearts.

            Q.  Last year you talked a lot about how much of a dream it all was.  How do you think you will spend this evening building up to the final?

            FRANCESCA SCHIAVONE:  This is easy, simple.  I go to take a walk I think this afternoon and then rest a little bit, get some physiotherapy.  Eating, enjoy with friends.  Nothing special.  I don't think now to Li Na.  I will think tomorrow.

            I think is much more important now to relax and take back some big energy and to be focused for tomorrow.

            Q.  Don't you think it's a good thing ‑‑ you were talking about the younger players ‑‑ that they see that when power is not everything, as it is on clay, when two women are in the final who know what to do with a ball, who know how to make it behave differently than just about power, don't you think that's an important lesson?

            FRANCESCA SCHIAVONE:  That's fantastic.  I start to say it from the start.  Why you do some results on the clay and why this age, or blah, blah, blah.  And I say from the first day that clay, it's a mix of everything.  So you have to be good physically, mentally, good tactic.  You can't play just power, because you have always the time to defense and to counterattack.

            So in one point on the clay, you can arrive to be in defense and then attack and then to the net and then again in defense.

            That, I think, is a good mix to keep going, to use the mind, the heart, the body, everything that you are.  So is good what you say, yeah.

            Q.  It's the classroom of the sport, right?

            FRANCESCA SCHIAVONE:  Si, I think so, yes.  But of course when you see a final like in Wimbledon, like Rafa against Roger, that is a class.  Big example, of course.

            So yeah.

            Q.  I just wonder if on clay when all people do is hit hard and they're having a bad day, it can be very ugly tennis.  I mean, women's tennis looks better on grass if the balls are hard hitting.  But I think this court exposes problems with players who just want to hit hard.

            FRANCESCA SCHIAVONE:  Yeah, because you have to use this (pointing to head) always every day.  Yeah.

            But when you're born with a different play like topspin or backhand, different way, you can't ask to hit the ball 200 per hours.

            But in the same times, if you born and if you play a great forehand or backhand like Dementieva was playing and hitting strong, that's fantastic.  But maybe when is windy you have to have another ‑‑ to find another solution, or when you are with big tension or you do like this (hands to face) every players are different, but for sure on the clay you can't use just the power.

                       

Roland Garros June 2 2011 - Francesca Schiavone

F. SCHIAVONE/M. Bartoli

           

6‑3, 6‑3

           

FRANCESCA SCHIAVONE

           

            Q.  The question is, didn't she bother you with all these movements between points, all the movements she was doing from the start of the match until...

            FRANCESCA SCHIAVONE:  No, no, no, she does everything ‑‑ all the time she makes some movement.

            No, no, I make mine; she makes hers.

            Q.  Because the players want to be focused, and this is something...

            FRANCESCA SCHIAVONE:  Oh, no, no.  She took maybe too much time, but then the umpire give her the time violation.

            But, no, no, everybody are different.  No, is not a problem.

            Q.  You clearly have proven again that you're a different player at Roland Garros than anywhere else, including the clay court tournaments this year.  What is your explanation for why you have been able to do it this year again?

            FRANCESCA SCHIAVONE:  No, I think because is inspiration.  When I was young I always dreamed this tournament, so maybe is coming from a long, long time ago.

            When I come here, I feel something special.  That's all.

            Q.  What is it about your game that you feel makes you so effective on this surface?

            FRANCESCA SCHIAVONE:  Because the ball is bounce a lot; when there is sun is better for me because I can play deep and heavy.

            I think is great court.  There is no bounce different.  Of course is French Open, so is good for me.  I don't know what to say.  Is good for me for spin, for different kind of balls.  I like to play high and then stop short.

            Everything mix.  I love it.

            Q.  It sounded as if 50 Italians made more sound than the whole stadium.  How did you feel about that?

            FRANCESCA SCHIAVONE:  No, was not like this.  The crowd today I think was fantastic with Marion.  They support her from the first point until the end.  But I can understand.  When I play Roma is the same.  So is great to have 15,000 person with you.

            But I have to say thanks to my 50 or 100, I don't know, fans that they came today.  For me is always a pleasure to play in front of all this crowd and all these fans.

            Q.  This time you're not going to be an outsider in the final but a defending champion.  How is that going to make you feel when you're going to go on court as a finalist?  Is it going to make any change or not?

            FRANCESCA SCHIAVONE:  Of course is a final.  I can't see this final like the first round.  It's impossible.  It's just final, but you are at the end of a fantastic project and great wishes, dream.

            So I think Saturday I will go on the court enjoying, breathing, say thanks for everything, because for me to arrive in final is fantastic, is big emotions.

            And then play tennis.  Sometimes we forget to play tennis, and we go inside us and we break everything and we are upset.  But is just tennis.

            It's fantastic.  And I have the chance to play good, because I play against a really tough opponent.  I think she's playing one of the best tennis in her career from Australia.  She's pushing strong physically, mentally.  She has not anymore so much down, but she keep going at high level.

            So I have to play I think 80%, 90%, 100% to win and to play good.

            Q.  You are going to play Na Li in the final, and it's going to be the oldest like final in terms of combined age.  Do you have any comments on that?  What kind of a match do you think it's going to be?

            FRANCESCA SCHIAVONE:  I didn't understand the first part.  (Through translation.)

            Ah, okay.  I didn't know.  (Smiling.)

            Yeah, is mean that we are ‑‑ the years can help a lot.  The experience maybe are changing a little bit the age, because some years ago the champion were always young players:  Martina Hingis, the Williamses.  Now are changing.

            Like I said some days ago, is like the wine.  Stay in the bottle more is much, much better.  So is good to be there.  Li Na is, I just say before that she has a great performance with Sharapova today, and some days ago against Azarenka.  So I have to play really good and be strong here and physically.

            We are not similar like playing, but we are strong person, strong personality.  I play kicker, slice, and topspin.  She play much more with power.

            But the key can be the consistent and maybe attack or play deep.  Many small things can make the difference.

            Q.  You said earlier that Roland Garros was important to you when you were young.  Could you be more specific?  Do you remember your first Roland Garros, players that you saw or particular memories when you were young?

            FRANCESCA SCHIAVONE:  When I came here the first year was in junior, and I played qualification in another club and then I came here.

            I played first round, second round, and then I lost in the quarterfinal, junior.

            During that week there was big match, Graf, Steffi Graf, against Monica Seles.  I remember that I went there with the camera with picture, to take a picture.  Every year before come here, I go to watch that picture.  And is one.  Is one picture.

            So I think in that moment I was in Suzanne Lenglen like a normal person, like in the public, in the crowd.  I remember that moment, and I say, I want to play in this court.  I want to be like them.  Maybe this one can make the difference.  I don't know.

            Q.  Which one did you root for, Monica or Steffi?

            FRANCESCA SCHIAVONE:  Ah.  For me?  I remember that I have in my room two posters ‑‑ more than two, but in those poster, there were both.  So Steffi and Monica, big example.  Steffi for mix it up everything and mentally strong, and Monica for an amazing talent and great moving and good, really tough mind.

            I think both of them are fantastic, were being fantastic.

                  

Roland Garros May 31 2011 - Francesca Schiavone

F. SCHIAVONE/A. Pavlyuchenkova

1 6, 7 5, 7 5


FRANCESCA SCHIAVONE

Q. You're a mature woman.
FRANCESCA SCHIAVONE: Thank you. (Laughter.)

Q. How did you explain that you go and play a girl who's almost a child still; yet at the end you seem to have even more energy and enthusiasm?
FRANCESCA SCHIAVONE: No, I think she was too very exciting and energy. Both we were ready to do something great.
No, I think at the end, more I play, I play better. That's always from always. I burn like this. I started, okay, too slow, absolutely too slow.
But in the end I felt better much more. I could play much more. I could play better. So it was good.

Q. Was there a point in your mind where you thought, Well, maybe I'm over the hump, and from now on it'll be easier even if I lose?
FRANCESCA SCHIAVONE: Yeah, sure. A little bit yes, but a little bit no. Because when I arrive 4 1 down and you try to win the second set and you win the second set, you know you have other 45 minutes to play. So you have to be ready for everything.
I was ready to play longer.

Q. You seemed to have some trouble to get into the match. Explain to us why. Then you raised your game in the second set. When did you feel that it finally clicked and that your shots all went in and it went better?
FRANCESCA SCHIAVONE: I couldn't play spin inside the court. No, the true is that I couldn't play inside the court, inside the line. I tried to keep my serve, but always second serve because the first one, the percentage was really down.
On 6 1, 4 1 no, 6 1, I say, Keep going. The key is to hit three, four, five, six, seven balls, but I couldn't arrive three, four. So I say, Keep going. That's the way to win or to try to do something. Otherwise if I go to the net in one shot, no way to win.
So 4 1, I played really good two games. Then she went a little bit down, and when I catch her on 4 All, I say, Keep going. I am here. If I have to lose, I have to lose in a right way. But if I have the chance to win, I going good direction.

Q. What did you think when she came back from 5 1 to 5 All?
FRANCESCA SCHIAVONE: I think was doing like this: 5 1, I was with windy. There was a lot of windy. So when you are to the other side, very difficult to win the games.
But I arrive 5 1, and she was serving against the wind. I was saying, This is a good chance for me. Good inside. 5 1, 0 15, she served the second serve and I tried it hit with my forehand long line. That is strange and is to go to win directly point, and I miss a little bit.
Then she play I think some points good, and I didn't push enough. So 5 2. When I went to the other side against the wind, was not easy to win. She grow up a little bit with the level; I went a little bit down. Was enough, enough to go 5 4.
And when I came to the wind, I say 5 4 is good chance for me. Now serve, good percentage, but she played good, better than me in that moment, pushing me outside with the forehand and push hard on my backhand.
I think she played really good, but maybe she had less experience than me. Today I think my 30 years old, I could use it.

Q. (No microphone.)
FRANCESCA SCHIAVONE: To adapt about winning? No, because she played good 5 4, 5 All. Then I say, That's my way. I can't go serve and volley or do something strange. The key is to play deep and with spin, soon as I have the chance, go inside.

Q. A question about you and your game. More than anyone in our sport, you're so expressive, you're happy, joyous, miserable, sad. We always know what you're thinking. Just talk about your expressive quality, your expressions? Is that part of who you are?
FRANCESCA SCHIAVONE: Yeah. I live and I love tennis when I can express myself. So enjoying and be sad, like you say, I am a mix of everything. I am transparent, so you can understand how I play and how I feel. I should a little bit don't show too much.
But I'm improving. So in some years will be good. (Smiling.) And, yes, I am like this inside the court, outside. But is good. I enjoy to play tennis.
I am 6 1, 4 1 down, and I say, Francie, this is the way go. Today like this. Keep going. I was really sad inside, but what can you do?
Nobody can change; just me. So I came back and I enjoy a little bit more at the end than at the start, for sure.

Q. It wasn't that long ago that the tour was dominated by teenagers: Steffi, Monica, Martina, whatever. Nowadays it seems to be more experienced players having the better road like yourself at 30, as you say. Can you talk about why you think that has occurred?
FRANCESCA SCHIAVONE: Because I think now everybody are really fit and ready for every kind of matches and every kind of surface. So the young player are coming, but is not easy like before to win easy.
Or you are a big, big talent or now you can find 28 or 30 years old, and they use experience, they use body, mind. So for young player is much tougher now than before.

Q. Leaving the court you touched the ground and kissed your hand. What does it mean? Can you speak about it?
FRANCESCA SCHIAVONE: No, I couldn't go down. I was pain in my legs, so I say thanks in that way. But was a kiss...

Q. The ground?
FRANCESCA SCHIAVONE: Yeah, was a kiss to the clay, yeah.

Q. Can you explain to me why we see so many women's matches here turning around? We saw Sharapova turn it around against Radwanska, you turning around. Rus turning it around against Clijsters. Can you explain me in less than one minute why women's tennis is that kind?
FRANCESCA SCHIAVONE: I think happen also in the match, because if you follow, sometimes you say, okay, 5 3 the women's serve, oh, maybe could lose. But in the men happen, too. Less than woman, but of course if I serve from two meters at 200 kilometers or more, it's different than 166, 60 kilos, bleep.
But to explain why, I don't know. Because clay for sure give you always a chance. Grass give less chance. Hard court less. So clay you have to go to the net and shake the hands before to say is finish the match. I think like this.

Roland Garros May 29 011 - Francesca Schiavone

F. SCHIAVONE/J. Jankovic

6 3, 2 6, 6 4

FRANCESCA SCHIAVONE


Q. It was a very tight match. What do you think made the difference today?
FRANCESCA SCHIAVONE: I think the key was when I came back in the third set, and I really was much more consistent than before. With my spin, I could control a little bit more than her.

Q. Now that the top three seeds are out of this tournament since Zvonareva lost today, does that add more pressure on you?
FRANCESCA SCHIAVONE: No. We live with pressure, so from the start we have to organize ourself at the best and to play feeling the pressure, and so with the good balance between good play and pressure.
So tomorrow or in two days will be another match. I say every day that you can't fly too much or you have always to watch the next step and next match.
So we will see. For sure it's interesting, but in the woman tennis now is really, really open. Many players play good.

Q. You won the title last year. Nadal, also. But Nadal this year has lost a bit of confidence. What about yourself? How do you compare yourself to last year? Better or playing just as good?
FRANCESCA SCHIAVONE: Better for tennis? No. But better like experienced, like person. I can improve more and play better than today or some days ago, yes.

Q. It's not about today's match, but Patty Schnyder, she just announced her retirement. You guys are kind of like same generation, so could you give us any comments on her retirement?
FRANCESCA SCHIAVONE: Patty was she's great, because she's really simple person, and I think she sign history in tennis. She was been top 10 for many, many years. Great talent with lefty. Was not easy for me to play against her.
I hope she can find good life, next life with husband. And that's okay. That's life.

Q. It always looks very spectacular when you go in the decision of the match. What did you think when it was so close in the end? Is that like improvising? Or is that a plan, going to the net and putting the other one under pressure? Or it's just coming naturally in the moment?
FRANCESCA SCHIAVONE: No, no, I have to think to go inside. I tried to do it before, but I couldn't because my ball was not so deep. Then I found a good angle, and I played a little bit more deep with spin, and I had the chance to serve good, go to the net.
That was the key. I should do maybe a little bit more before. But when you feel it's time to do it, you do it.

Roland Garros. May 2011 - Francesca Schiavone

F. SCHIAVONE/M. Oudin

6 2, 6 0

FRANCESCA SCHIAVONE

Q. No kissing of the court today. Do you save that?
FRANCESCA SCHIAVONE: No, I forgot. I don't know if I forgot or was not the moment. I am very instinct person, so no. Just leave this match normal.

Q. The first 10 years or so of your career you had made something like eight fourth rounds in the Grand Slams. Now you've made six out of the past seven. What has clicked now at 29, 30 years old you are a better player than you were in your 20s?
FRANCESCA SCHIAVONE: I think I am more cautioned over who I am and what I want. I think a lot of experience can became true in everything that I am doing. Not just tennis, but life.
Everything that I do, it's in one way, and now I know. Before it was a little bit yeah, but no, but yes. A lot of that. Now much better.

Q. It's very rare in tennis. We're more used to a Melanie Oudin who might have a big flash at the beginning of a career and then try to hold on. Your flash came very late.
FRANCESCA SCHIAVONE: No, I'm a little bit late, but late, I mean late of you, not for me.

Q. How does it feel to play the first match on the Chatrier as the defending champion?
FRANCESCA SCHIAVONE: I'm still shaking a little bit. My rush for everything. A lot of adrenaline. I felt really happy to be there. That's court is fantastic, because is compact. The court is perfect. Everything is going around you and is like -- you know when you go home and your mom do everything for you and you feel comfortable? Yeah, I felt like this but really a lot of adrenaline.
I was excited to be there at 11:00 on center court. Great. For me, is great.

Q. More nervous than usual because of the situation?
FRANCESCA SCHIAVONE: Yes, but with good feeling. So mix between nervous and really the chance to be good and to play tennis that I love.

Q. Is your preparation as good as you wanted before the tournament?
FRANCESCA SCHIAVONE: I already say in Rome that, you know, when you win a lot of matches, you arrive in a Grand Slam with a better feeling, but I am really particular. So every time I have to say that there is a preparation for sure: mentally, tactically, physically.
But is some days that I feel much better than before. So I'm positive and I want to live really every day.