In spite of the obvious stress that this is placing on me, I am yet again beside the water in Marseille drinking cold liquid after another searching day. My plans fell into place for once and I did catch the train to Arles - about an hour away - and it satisfied somewhat the Italian void in my trip. Yes those ruins of the Roman kind can take you back centuries and remove all sense that in fact you may be straddling the Rhone in France.
The river was in fine form, as were the buildings, looking just as old as they ever did, in fact more so. Hopefully the significant restoration underway will ultimately demand an even greater level of care available from the increased tourist dollar.
Van Gogh was said to have spent some time in Arles, but that fact bears little consequence when stacked up against the news that the Gipsy Kings are natives of this town. Who'd have thought it? And to add to the flavour, my IPod shuffle randomly selected one of their hits as I was leaving the train station to head home to Marseille. Oops, I said home a bit too easily didn't I?
While I am doing little of value here, some of the world's tennis players are doing even less. Only kidding, they do try hard. All the Australians are now beaten in current singles tournaments - Lleyton Hewitt the last to go a short time ago at Halle. It was the right thing for Hewitt to lose to the local player Kohlschreiber - doesn't help his ranking but won't lose him friends.
Meanwhile my latest find is a brasserie with 4 large screens all tuned to Eurosport and showing quarter finals from Queens, London. Nadal and Tsonga were trading service games until the Spaniard took the tie break. A turn of events saw both drop their opening serves in the second set before steady as you go and 4-4 was achieved.
Funny watching the game played on grass - better become used to it I suppose. Nadal then cracked, the Frenchman broke and held to take the set 6-4 and from there never looked back. That would be silly anyway playing tennis - you would lose most points with that attitude.
Of course all the while I was eating my honeyed duck breast extremely slowly in order to catch the final result which was 6-7 6-4 6-1 on all 4 screens for Tsonga who I will be seeing at full confidence at Eastbourne next week maybe as winner of Queens.
Have to go now - time to spend a few precious more euros on hydrating myself.
Saturday, 11 June 2011
Friday, 10 June 2011
Another boat trip
Another day in paradise, another boat to take - this one to Les Iles du Frioul some 30 or so minutes away from the hectic life of Marseille proper. A chance to wander around up down in and out and appreciate the natural things that this small treasure offers. There is geography - coincidentally a Calanque or two to view from the different perspective to which I alluded yesterday. Also history including after some climbing the first hand view of what was the Fort Ratonneau. In itself fascinating, but at the top of the island the view was spectacular for a full 360 degrees.
Unfortunately weather conditions prevented the boat from taking us to one of the islands - If - where the famous Chateau d'If presents itself. It's fame predominantly lies with being the place of imprisonment for the Count of Monte Cristo. Still the photos from afar of the island are pretty worthwhile. Another chance to visit there before I leave.
Lunch was enjoyed back in Marseille tempered sadly yet again by the ever present requests from beggars to those eating at outside tables. Sad to see this from those in need, but I have also seen groups of these people assemble early in the day to plan their "work" on tourists so level of sympathy varies with what is genuine.
Tomorrow after becoming completely sick of Marseille (joking) I've decided to venture to Arles and see what it can offer. I will leave my things here and return just to give Marseille another couple of days to confirm it's impressiveness.
Unfortunately weather conditions prevented the boat from taking us to one of the islands - If - where the famous Chateau d'If presents itself. It's fame predominantly lies with being the place of imprisonment for the Count of Monte Cristo. Still the photos from afar of the island are pretty worthwhile. Another chance to visit there before I leave.
Lunch was enjoyed back in Marseille tempered sadly yet again by the ever present requests from beggars to those eating at outside tables. Sad to see this from those in need, but I have also seen groups of these people assemble early in the day to plan their "work" on tourists so level of sympathy varies with what is genuine.
Tomorrow after becoming completely sick of Marseille (joking) I've decided to venture to Arles and see what it can offer. I will leave my things here and return just to give Marseille another couple of days to confirm it's impressiveness.
Thursday, 9 June 2011
Serena is back!
Yeah I know the rest of the Solar System already knows but it is wonderful news that we will have both of the sisters back on grass this year - playing tennis on it I mean.
What's more it will be the Eastbourne tournament where we have the chance to see the ladies strut their stuff and for Serena it has been almost 12 months since any strutting - last year at Wimbledon in fact. I will be there live to report on the comeback for you.
Venus has played some tennis, but neither has been assisted by health issues, and their rankings have slid as a result. Serena, if fit for Wimbledon, will not likely be given a discretionary seeding higher than her current 25 in the world, which scarily could place her in a third round clash against a top ten ranked player. There will be more than a few shaking in their boots wondering how the champion's practice form is.
The problem ranking wise is that Serena must win Wimbledon to retain her number of points (add any she may gain at Eastbourne which she did not play last year).
The good thing is that if she can be available for the rest of the tournaments that matter this year, she will have zero points to defend and will just rack them up week after week.
On top of that we know how good Venus is on this surface having won five titles at the All England Club.
Womens' tennis has received a shot in the arm with the sisters returning - indeed a double shot.
What's more it will be the Eastbourne tournament where we have the chance to see the ladies strut their stuff and for Serena it has been almost 12 months since any strutting - last year at Wimbledon in fact. I will be there live to report on the comeback for you.
Venus has played some tennis, but neither has been assisted by health issues, and their rankings have slid as a result. Serena, if fit for Wimbledon, will not likely be given a discretionary seeding higher than her current 25 in the world, which scarily could place her in a third round clash against a top ten ranked player. There will be more than a few shaking in their boots wondering how the champion's practice form is.
The problem ranking wise is that Serena must win Wimbledon to retain her number of points (add any she may gain at Eastbourne which she did not play last year).
The good thing is that if she can be available for the rest of the tournaments that matter this year, she will have zero points to defend and will just rack them up week after week.
On top of that we know how good Venus is on this surface having won five titles at the All England Club.
Womens' tennis has received a shot in the arm with the sisters returning - indeed a double shot.
Just Keep Walking
One of the first things I learnt about Marseille, apart from how glorious the weather is, and how appealing the water looks (the grapevine suggested that Melbourne may be providing somewhere in the region of 11 degrees max) is that the budget does not extend to provision of public seating to any level one would expect. Especially so, if that expectant were of the tourist species.
Whilst in the second or third stage of being local map reading-challenged, yours truly managed to walk in the direction that I stubbornly believed would be what the compass would advise (should I have one of those things), for around 2 kilometres before something resembling a seat was used to park me while I confirmed that indeed my status of not being where I should was now compounded by some 2 kilometres.
One place where there are some seats is at the underground Metro stations, and from where I now found myself a train was the most useful tool. The other tool present was me and not so useful. Using my IPad Maps App - wow what a great idea. Planning and thinking. Hope I have those two sorted out or I won't make it out of France and into England for the next tennis stage of my trip.
Then again I could stay here - it's raining on and off in London - I could always do the tennis by remote control. Nah - where's the joy in not being able to say you have experienced Wimbledon rain and a little tennis in between?
Last night was a change in pace though from Paris - sitting by the water, drink in hand, nothing on my mind except - no I was right nothing - watching 10-12 locals with a fishing line dropped in the water (one each) determined to catch something, fish preferably, accompanied I believe by someone else's choice, by a lone dog whose determination in seeing that no fish were caught was more successful.
Today I was ready to hit the water, and with so many boats in port I took it upon myself to ensure that one would take me as ordered, for a price. With control of this vessel, my demands were simple - take me and the rest of these people here on a 3 hour tour (then I quickly checked that the SS Minnow was not painted on the side) so I may finally see the Calanques between Marseille and Cassis, of which I'd been aware for at least a few months now.
Well they certainly were impressive in their rockiness but among the million shots that I took between nearly losing my camera overboard a few times the most impressive thing that I noticed, and we were navigated pretty darn close to these things, was the variation in trees and shrubs associated with rock formations that may be only short distances apart. Then of course there were the caves formed in a number of the Calanques - another time it would be tremendous to take a land tour and gain a different perspective.
For an afternoon thrill I decided to deny my feet the opportunity of resting and walked all the way to Notre-Dame de la Garde, which is so my Catholic sources tell me a minor basilica, which leads me to wonder what something major would look like, cause this is impressive. Although not traditionally "old" in the sense that it is a nineteenth century replacement for a church originally constructed centuries earlier, it is something to take in, maybe two visits worth. The standout feature, is a bell tower which is sat atop by an 11 metre plus copper statue of Madonna and Child (guilded with gold leaf)
The walk to the basilica was mostly up because at something like 150 metres it sits on the highest natural point in Marseille. It can be truthfully said then that I was high in Southern France because of the Catholic Church.
Whilst in the second or third stage of being local map reading-challenged, yours truly managed to walk in the direction that I stubbornly believed would be what the compass would advise (should I have one of those things), for around 2 kilometres before something resembling a seat was used to park me while I confirmed that indeed my status of not being where I should was now compounded by some 2 kilometres.
One place where there are some seats is at the underground Metro stations, and from where I now found myself a train was the most useful tool. The other tool present was me and not so useful. Using my IPad Maps App - wow what a great idea. Planning and thinking. Hope I have those two sorted out or I won't make it out of France and into England for the next tennis stage of my trip.
Then again I could stay here - it's raining on and off in London - I could always do the tennis by remote control. Nah - where's the joy in not being able to say you have experienced Wimbledon rain and a little tennis in between?
Last night was a change in pace though from Paris - sitting by the water, drink in hand, nothing on my mind except - no I was right nothing - watching 10-12 locals with a fishing line dropped in the water (one each) determined to catch something, fish preferably, accompanied I believe by someone else's choice, by a lone dog whose determination in seeing that no fish were caught was more successful.
Today I was ready to hit the water, and with so many boats in port I took it upon myself to ensure that one would take me as ordered, for a price. With control of this vessel, my demands were simple - take me and the rest of these people here on a 3 hour tour (then I quickly checked that the SS Minnow was not painted on the side) so I may finally see the Calanques between Marseille and Cassis, of which I'd been aware for at least a few months now.
Well they certainly were impressive in their rockiness but among the million shots that I took between nearly losing my camera overboard a few times the most impressive thing that I noticed, and we were navigated pretty darn close to these things, was the variation in trees and shrubs associated with rock formations that may be only short distances apart. Then of course there were the caves formed in a number of the Calanques - another time it would be tremendous to take a land tour and gain a different perspective.
For an afternoon thrill I decided to deny my feet the opportunity of resting and walked all the way to Notre-Dame de la Garde, which is so my Catholic sources tell me a minor basilica, which leads me to wonder what something major would look like, cause this is impressive. Although not traditionally "old" in the sense that it is a nineteenth century replacement for a church originally constructed centuries earlier, it is something to take in, maybe two visits worth. The standout feature, is a bell tower which is sat atop by an 11 metre plus copper statue of Madonna and Child (guilded with gold leaf)
The walk to the basilica was mostly up because at something like 150 metres it sits on the highest natural point in Marseille. It can be truthfully said then that I was high in Southern France because of the Catholic Church.
Tuesday, 7 June 2011
Rainstorm in Paris after the Open
Before leaving my home of a fortnight, I had planned to reacquaint myself with some of the city that I met up with previously. However, the Men's Final affected not only the atmosphere within the crowd at Rolamd Garros, but the atmosphere over the entire populace that night. Paris was subjected to a spectacular rainstorm complete with lightning as special effects. Was it tears of joy from the Almighty, after backing Nadal or an angry outburst at his favourite son being defeated?
However it is sunny in Marseille where I am heading today, and from where I will deliver more riveting tennis dispatches as we lead into Wimbledon. Of course these will not be from first hand viewing, but will rely on sitting back on water's edge, drinking and eating and calmly tapping into the reports on my cool live scores IPad app or watching the live coverage on screens where available.
Life in the south of France will be hard to stomach so spare a thought for me while I grit my teeth and bear it!
However it is sunny in Marseille where I am heading today, and from where I will deliver more riveting tennis dispatches as we lead into Wimbledon. Of course these will not be from first hand viewing, but will rely on sitting back on water's edge, drinking and eating and calmly tapping into the reports on my cool live scores IPad app or watching the live coverage on screens where available.
Life in the south of France will be hard to stomach so spare a thought for me while I grit my teeth and bear it!
Monday, 6 June 2011
Rafa Reigns again on Roger's parade
For two weeks, things had happened in Paris, on an off the tennis court, but when it all washed up we once more had the stubbornness of possibly the greatest male player of all time to have yet another crack at the modern day owner of Court Philippe Chatrier.
Before the tournament, the widely held expectation was that the French Open 2011 vintage would be a wine produced by either Rafael Nadal or his nemesis this year Novak Djokovic. Not many expected that the grapes from one of Roger Federer's vineyards would be the season's surprise packet.
Already established as one of the two form players of the tournament before the semis, along with Nadal, Roger is now being talked seriously in terms of cover of Time for what he dished up against Djokovic on Friday. However it was defending champion Nadal who entered the match as bookies favourite, although the crowd may have been leaning just a little Roger's way.
The semi final form was fresh for the Swiss player as he took little time in racking up a 2-0 lead over the surprised yet unperturbed Spaniard. With Roger serving well Rafa needed to remain patient and where he could keep the points long - on clay this would ultimately occur.
Each player was thrilling their fans as the match began to take shape, and Roger, with a break and serving first found himself at 5-2, and even better for him with set point. Rafa could only watch helplessly and then breathe a huge sigh as Roger's drop shot slipped wide.
Rafa held for 3-5, and we all believed that Roger would continue his good serving and take the set - enter some serving problems to spoil that theory. Add to that the Spanish resolve and the break point presented was gladly accepted and we had 4-5 with Nadal to serve next. With all the running, Rafa lifted his game and made Federer play longer points which tested Roger's patience. His inability to put away winners, mainly a product of Rafa's extraordinary desperation to chase everything and be prepared at the end of the chase with racquet in perfect position to return a potential point winning stroke, made it nigh on impossible to break the Nadal serve. The causal effect was to pressure the Federer serve which had been so solid until 5-5.
Rafa exploded in this game, pouncing on every opening that appeared and taking the break opportunity to lead 6-5 and be serving inexplicably for the first set, with the final 5 games to do so. This he did with consummate ease, and the body language from the other end, which to be honest, had been anything but pumped up while doing the front running, was now downright depressing to us who had our support behind the champion.
Things became bleaker in set two with Roger simply being outplayed from the back of the court - Nadal broke straight away, led 3-1 and could almost have had a second and fatal break but for some great fight and champion qualities from Federer. Still when more serves were held and the games reached 4-3 with Rafa to come to the line again, a change was needed to the direction of a final which was steadily slipping out of the grasp of the 16 time grand slam tournament winner.
As if his brain registered that moving forward to take net position and volley occasionally may break the game apart somewhat, the body obeyed, and Roger thwarted Nadal's hitherto successful crosscourt and down the line slashing winners and error forcing blasts. Back on serve and we had ourselves a final once more.
Roger was still calm - his demeanor unchanged since the start of the match. One would not have thought that he had just brought him himself back from maybe the brink. The facial expression more befitted the result of his next service game which was anything but memorable. After asserting himself so well to come back, the ease with which Roger surrendered the break back immediately suggested that this set was all but gone the same way as the first.
Rafa had set point but at 40-30 rain began to become an issue, so much so that the players were forced to leave the court, but not before Nadal had granted one parting gesture to his opponent by committing an error and leaving the score tantalizingly at deuce.
Back from the rain break - only a short one - and it was the Swiss player who adjusted better quicker and managed to break yet again for 5-5. Roger had the ominous look for the first time since early in the final as he races to 6-5, but Nadal wanted the tie breaker and so the umpire granted his wish. This umpire by the way was an embarrassment - I will not give him too much space here, but he was impotent when the crowd needed controlling, never once requesting silence at appropriate times, out of respect for the players. All chair umpires are trained to be alert to close line calls and any disputes arising. He just announced the score and demonstrated the most inept display at a Grand Slam tournament that I have witnessed, let alone in a Men's Final which demands the best officials. There enough said.
Roger's tie break efforts against Djokovic were superb and match winning - in the second set breaker in the final Nadal was leading 4-0 in a flash. Too much to respond to, and that gap was maintained to the end which saw Nadal holding a 7-5 7-6 lead and a firm grip on French Open title number six.
Nothing early in the third changed the universal view that Roger was in deep trouble, this trouble compounded when Nadal broke service to lead 4-2. More fight in the Federer tank as he hit his straps in the very next game to break back for 3-4. On serve until as in set one we had 5-5. This time Nadal was serving, and the scoreboard pressure was all on Federer. As long as Nadal held, a slip by Roger would be the match over. So the master played his best returning game of the match to easily break the Spanish serve and have the chance to serve for his first set of the final.
To his supporters' rapture, Federer won the third set 7-5 and at last some reward for his efforts in the match had come his way. Only, the glory for him in set 4 was limited indeed. With Rafa serving first, again Roger could ill afford a slip, especially in the later stages of the set. So Roger attacked Rafa with everything at his disposal including a kitchen sink if my eyes didn't deceive me. 0-40, and surely this was the break needed to progress to a two sets all position.
The 2011 French Open was decided in the next game and a half. Rafa saved all of the break points in a stretch of 5 straight to hold serve and mentally destabilise Federer. It arose through Nadal lifting his game to another level, attacking in a Federer-like fashion where Federer had been reticent to do, and giving us an entree to the best set of shot retrieval one would ever hope to see.
Federer from this point was in a different match to Nadal who was playing in his own special universe. Nadal serving first with a break stretched the lead to 4-1, and Roger needed to hold serve to stay alive. As much as Roger tried, Rafa had already had the engravers begin their work on the silverware as he cruised through, breaking for a second time, and serving the final set out with comfort.
So number six at Roland Garros for Rafa, and yet another success over Roger in a Grand Slam tournament final. Roger will be pleased with the tournament but be regretting missed early chances in the final. Wimbledon could be the scene of another title for the Swiss star.
Rafa stays number one for a little while longer and must rate himself a fair chance of defending his Wimbledon title
Congratulations to all the players in all the matches - especially Li Na with her breakthrough and of course Rafa for equalling Bjorn Borg's record of six titles here.
Special thanks to Steve, Kathy and the gang for taking great care of us while we were in Paris - making sure we made it to matches on time and did not become lost and for generally providing wonderful hospitality.
Before the tournament, the widely held expectation was that the French Open 2011 vintage would be a wine produced by either Rafael Nadal or his nemesis this year Novak Djokovic. Not many expected that the grapes from one of Roger Federer's vineyards would be the season's surprise packet.
Already established as one of the two form players of the tournament before the semis, along with Nadal, Roger is now being talked seriously in terms of cover of Time for what he dished up against Djokovic on Friday. However it was defending champion Nadal who entered the match as bookies favourite, although the crowd may have been leaning just a little Roger's way.
The semi final form was fresh for the Swiss player as he took little time in racking up a 2-0 lead over the surprised yet unperturbed Spaniard. With Roger serving well Rafa needed to remain patient and where he could keep the points long - on clay this would ultimately occur.
Each player was thrilling their fans as the match began to take shape, and Roger, with a break and serving first found himself at 5-2, and even better for him with set point. Rafa could only watch helplessly and then breathe a huge sigh as Roger's drop shot slipped wide.
Rafa held for 3-5, and we all believed that Roger would continue his good serving and take the set - enter some serving problems to spoil that theory. Add to that the Spanish resolve and the break point presented was gladly accepted and we had 4-5 with Nadal to serve next. With all the running, Rafa lifted his game and made Federer play longer points which tested Roger's patience. His inability to put away winners, mainly a product of Rafa's extraordinary desperation to chase everything and be prepared at the end of the chase with racquet in perfect position to return a potential point winning stroke, made it nigh on impossible to break the Nadal serve. The causal effect was to pressure the Federer serve which had been so solid until 5-5.
Rafa exploded in this game, pouncing on every opening that appeared and taking the break opportunity to lead 6-5 and be serving inexplicably for the first set, with the final 5 games to do so. This he did with consummate ease, and the body language from the other end, which to be honest, had been anything but pumped up while doing the front running, was now downright depressing to us who had our support behind the champion.
Things became bleaker in set two with Roger simply being outplayed from the back of the court - Nadal broke straight away, led 3-1 and could almost have had a second and fatal break but for some great fight and champion qualities from Federer. Still when more serves were held and the games reached 4-3 with Rafa to come to the line again, a change was needed to the direction of a final which was steadily slipping out of the grasp of the 16 time grand slam tournament winner.
As if his brain registered that moving forward to take net position and volley occasionally may break the game apart somewhat, the body obeyed, and Roger thwarted Nadal's hitherto successful crosscourt and down the line slashing winners and error forcing blasts. Back on serve and we had ourselves a final once more.
Roger was still calm - his demeanor unchanged since the start of the match. One would not have thought that he had just brought him himself back from maybe the brink. The facial expression more befitted the result of his next service game which was anything but memorable. After asserting himself so well to come back, the ease with which Roger surrendered the break back immediately suggested that this set was all but gone the same way as the first.
Rafa had set point but at 40-30 rain began to become an issue, so much so that the players were forced to leave the court, but not before Nadal had granted one parting gesture to his opponent by committing an error and leaving the score tantalizingly at deuce.
Back from the rain break - only a short one - and it was the Swiss player who adjusted better quicker and managed to break yet again for 5-5. Roger had the ominous look for the first time since early in the final as he races to 6-5, but Nadal wanted the tie breaker and so the umpire granted his wish. This umpire by the way was an embarrassment - I will not give him too much space here, but he was impotent when the crowd needed controlling, never once requesting silence at appropriate times, out of respect for the players. All chair umpires are trained to be alert to close line calls and any disputes arising. He just announced the score and demonstrated the most inept display at a Grand Slam tournament that I have witnessed, let alone in a Men's Final which demands the best officials. There enough said.
Roger's tie break efforts against Djokovic were superb and match winning - in the second set breaker in the final Nadal was leading 4-0 in a flash. Too much to respond to, and that gap was maintained to the end which saw Nadal holding a 7-5 7-6 lead and a firm grip on French Open title number six.
Nothing early in the third changed the universal view that Roger was in deep trouble, this trouble compounded when Nadal broke service to lead 4-2. More fight in the Federer tank as he hit his straps in the very next game to break back for 3-4. On serve until as in set one we had 5-5. This time Nadal was serving, and the scoreboard pressure was all on Federer. As long as Nadal held, a slip by Roger would be the match over. So the master played his best returning game of the match to easily break the Spanish serve and have the chance to serve for his first set of the final.
To his supporters' rapture, Federer won the third set 7-5 and at last some reward for his efforts in the match had come his way. Only, the glory for him in set 4 was limited indeed. With Rafa serving first, again Roger could ill afford a slip, especially in the later stages of the set. So Roger attacked Rafa with everything at his disposal including a kitchen sink if my eyes didn't deceive me. 0-40, and surely this was the break needed to progress to a two sets all position.
The 2011 French Open was decided in the next game and a half. Rafa saved all of the break points in a stretch of 5 straight to hold serve and mentally destabilise Federer. It arose through Nadal lifting his game to another level, attacking in a Federer-like fashion where Federer had been reticent to do, and giving us an entree to the best set of shot retrieval one would ever hope to see.
Federer from this point was in a different match to Nadal who was playing in his own special universe. Nadal serving first with a break stretched the lead to 4-1, and Roger needed to hold serve to stay alive. As much as Roger tried, Rafa had already had the engravers begin their work on the silverware as he cruised through, breaking for a second time, and serving the final set out with comfort.
So number six at Roland Garros for Rafa, and yet another success over Roger in a Grand Slam tournament final. Roger will be pleased with the tournament but be regretting missed early chances in the final. Wimbledon could be the scene of another title for the Swiss star.
Rafa stays number one for a little while longer and must rate himself a fair chance of defending his Wimbledon title
Congratulations to all the players in all the matches - especially Li Na with her breakthrough and of course Rafa for equalling Bjorn Borg's record of six titles here.
Special thanks to Steve, Kathy and the gang for taking great care of us while we were in Paris - making sure we made it to matches on time and did not become lost and for generally providing wonderful hospitality.
Li Na breaks through
For years, Li Na has threatened to succeed at the highest level in tennis, but mainly due to the era, her contemporaries have won the spoils and knocked her out at quarter or semi final stages. In Melbourne this year she achieved her first final appearance at a Grand Slam tournament losing a close three setter to Kim Clijsters.
The French Open had given her another chance at the jackpot, due to a range of factors - an underprepared Clijsters who was defeated early, surprise exits in the first week by top seed Wozniacki, last year's runner-up Stosur and in-form German player Goerges. Li Na still had Azarenka to beat in the quarter finals but the Belarussian had never been past that stage of a major so Li Na had that in her favour.
As things transpired, Francesca Schiavone ended up as the highest seed left on her side of the draw after the carnage of the top seeds extended to Zvonareva. So the final was between the youngsters on tour 30 year old defending champion Schiavone and 29 year old Li. Judging from their semi finals, Li would need to be more inventive in order to break up the many facets that exist in the Italian's game.
Considering that 12 months previous Schiavone had raised the trophy in triumph, her start was anything but assured, whereas it was the Chinese girl who took the game up to Francesca, surprising her with her willingness to move forward at times rather than play the baseline role which had proved entirely sufficient against the limited Sharapova in the semis.
The big forehand remained the cornerstone of Li's attack, though, and she held serve early without any signs of trouble. Being one of the few players able to consistently handle Schiavone's wicked slice and spin, Li managed to pressure enough of the Italian ground strokes into unforced error, achieving the initial break of the match early in set one. The remainder of the set went with serve, an unusual occurrence in women's singles finals these days, but one which brought a half smile to the Chinese face as another Italian error presented her the set. Half a smile was all that Li would allow herself, because she knew that the job to this point had been half completed. The wounded champion must be all the more respected.
Francesca found herself in even deeper trouble at the beginning of set two, seriously wounded when broken in the first game. Li saved a break point with an ace and held serve which she would continue to do solidly. At 3-1, she had a golden opportunity to secure the match with a simple put away and a double break. However she netted the shot, and Schiavone took heart from the near death experience.
At 4-3, still in command but receiving much more of a contest from a Schiavone showing her more recognisable skills, Li served to be one game away from glory. However she faulted and the crafty Italian could sense a third set coming up as she equalled at 4-4. Both girls traded a full range of top notch tennis shots, Schiavone with her spin and devilish backhand, Li with the regulation brutal forehand. The trend was moving ever so slightly towards the Italian in general play and the shots from the Chinese racquet were a little more conservative. Li served to stay in the set at 4-5, and again at 5-6, both times with success, but without the assuredness of what we witnessed earlier.
In fact in the 12th game a controversial line call at deuce went in favour of the Chinese girl, and rather than have to face a break point she instead proceeded to win the game and dominate the tie breaker, not relinquishing a single further point to Schiavone for the match. Partly explained by Francesca's devastation at the chair umpire's decision, but more so by her opponent's capacity to step it up when it mattered most. Lobbing and volleying superbly and serving as expected in a match deciding position, Li Na triumphed in the 2011 French Open 6-4 7-6.
Francesca could be well proud of her title defense, and although she slips a spot in the rankings, that is simply a statistic belying the position she holds in world tennis. Li Na now moves ahead of Azarenka to her highest ever ranking of 4 and is China's first Grand Slam singles champion. She deserves all that comes with that.
As an Australian, living in a country that has a wonderful trading relationship with China, I put it to the powers that be that for some extra exports of valuable minerals, we gain Li Na as our latest import because our tennis stocks are in serious need of a boost!
The French Open had given her another chance at the jackpot, due to a range of factors - an underprepared Clijsters who was defeated early, surprise exits in the first week by top seed Wozniacki, last year's runner-up Stosur and in-form German player Goerges. Li Na still had Azarenka to beat in the quarter finals but the Belarussian had never been past that stage of a major so Li Na had that in her favour.
As things transpired, Francesca Schiavone ended up as the highest seed left on her side of the draw after the carnage of the top seeds extended to Zvonareva. So the final was between the youngsters on tour 30 year old defending champion Schiavone and 29 year old Li. Judging from their semi finals, Li would need to be more inventive in order to break up the many facets that exist in the Italian's game.
Considering that 12 months previous Schiavone had raised the trophy in triumph, her start was anything but assured, whereas it was the Chinese girl who took the game up to Francesca, surprising her with her willingness to move forward at times rather than play the baseline role which had proved entirely sufficient against the limited Sharapova in the semis.
The big forehand remained the cornerstone of Li's attack, though, and she held serve early without any signs of trouble. Being one of the few players able to consistently handle Schiavone's wicked slice and spin, Li managed to pressure enough of the Italian ground strokes into unforced error, achieving the initial break of the match early in set one. The remainder of the set went with serve, an unusual occurrence in women's singles finals these days, but one which brought a half smile to the Chinese face as another Italian error presented her the set. Half a smile was all that Li would allow herself, because she knew that the job to this point had been half completed. The wounded champion must be all the more respected.
Francesca found herself in even deeper trouble at the beginning of set two, seriously wounded when broken in the first game. Li saved a break point with an ace and held serve which she would continue to do solidly. At 3-1, she had a golden opportunity to secure the match with a simple put away and a double break. However she netted the shot, and Schiavone took heart from the near death experience.
At 4-3, still in command but receiving much more of a contest from a Schiavone showing her more recognisable skills, Li served to be one game away from glory. However she faulted and the crafty Italian could sense a third set coming up as she equalled at 4-4. Both girls traded a full range of top notch tennis shots, Schiavone with her spin and devilish backhand, Li with the regulation brutal forehand. The trend was moving ever so slightly towards the Italian in general play and the shots from the Chinese racquet were a little more conservative. Li served to stay in the set at 4-5, and again at 5-6, both times with success, but without the assuredness of what we witnessed earlier.
In fact in the 12th game a controversial line call at deuce went in favour of the Chinese girl, and rather than have to face a break point she instead proceeded to win the game and dominate the tie breaker, not relinquishing a single further point to Schiavone for the match. Partly explained by Francesca's devastation at the chair umpire's decision, but more so by her opponent's capacity to step it up when it mattered most. Lobbing and volleying superbly and serving as expected in a match deciding position, Li Na triumphed in the 2011 French Open 6-4 7-6.
Francesca could be well proud of her title defense, and although she slips a spot in the rankings, that is simply a statistic belying the position she holds in world tennis. Li Na now moves ahead of Azarenka to her highest ever ranking of 4 and is China's first Grand Slam singles champion. She deserves all that comes with that.
As an Australian, living in a country that has a wonderful trading relationship with China, I put it to the powers that be that for some extra exports of valuable minerals, we gain Li Na as our latest import because our tennis stocks are in serious need of a boost!
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