TENNIS WTA Rome – Former Roland Garros champion Francesca Schiavone headlined the first round of the Internazionali BNL d’Italia when she upset Canadian rising star and Australian Open semifinalist Eugenie Bouchard. Diego Sampaolo
Schiavone, who will turn 34 next month, won just three matches but she showed glimpses of her past form producing one of her best matches in recent years in front of enthusiastic Italian fans. Schiavone broke serve in the opening game when Bouchard sent a forehand long. Schiavone was on fire and produced a series of shots to take a comfortable lead. Bouchard was never a factor and made a double fault to drop serve for the second time. Schiavone closed out the match in straight sets with 6-4 6-2 after a perfect match in which she made just 11 unforced errors. Schiavone will face either Spaniard Gabrine Muguruza or Italian Nastassia Burnett. The Italian hadn’t won against a top-20 player since her victory against Marion Bartoli at last year’s French Open in Paris.
Flavia Pennetta added more delight for Italian fans when she beat Austrian Yvonne Meusburger 6-2 6-3
The only disappointment for Italian tennis was Karin Knapp’s 6-1 6-1 defeat against Ana Ivanovic in just 55 minutes. Knapp broke serve in the opening serve but Ivanovic reeled off the next six games to clinch the first set. Ivanovic closed out the second set on her first match point. Knapp made 30 unforced errors and won just 345 of her first serve points. Ivanovic will face 2008 Rome finalist Alizé Cornet who beat Kirsten Flipkens 6-3 6-2.
Venus Williams recovered from a early break down to win 11 of her last 13 games en route to winning over Annicka Beck in straight sets with 6-3 6-1
Sloane Stephens rallied from a set and a break down to overcome Bojana Jovanovski in three sets with 3-6 6-3 6-3. Sam Stosur beat last year’s Wimbledon finalist Sabine Lisicki 6-3 6-3.
