2010 French Open Women’s preview – Sam Stosur vs Francesca Schiavone

The 2010 French Open Women’s Final has captured the interest of the Australian public with our very own Sam Stosur making her way into her first Grand Slam Final when she takes on Francesca Schiavone on Saturday night at Roland Garros.

Evonne Goolagong Cawley was the last Australian woman to win a Grand Slam singles final when she won Wimbledon in 1980 and Wendy Turnbull was the last Australian player to  reach the French Open women’s final when she was beaten by American Chris Evert in the 1979 final.

Australia’s Sam Stosur was around $70 at Betfair earlier in the tournament and she is now less than $2 to win the 2010 French Open title.

The match will start around 11:00pm AEST Melbourne time (3pm local time) and will be televised live on Channel 9 television.

2010 French Open Preview – Women’s Final

Head To Head Record
Sam Stosur (Ranked 7) 4 wins
Francesca Schiavone (17) 1 win

Last time they met:
2009 Osaka Final - Stosur won 7-5, 6-1

Sam Stosur path to French Open Final

R1 Simona Halep 7-5, 6-1
R2 Rossana De Los Rios 4-6, 6-1, 6-0
R3 Anastasia Pivovarova 6-3, 6-2
R4 Justine Henin 2-6, 6-1, 6-4
QF Serena Williams 6-2, 6-7(2), 8-6
SF Jelena Jankovic 6-1, 6-2

Sam Stosur defeated former French Open champions Justine Henin and Serena Williams on her way to an authoriative win in straight sets over Jelena Jankovic to reach the final.

Stosur has been brittle mentally in the past but she has shown a new found composure at this year’s French Open and she was able to pass all mental tests in her exciting victories over Henin and Williams and has certainly earned her place in this year’s final.

Australia will be behind Stosur as one in the French Open Final on Saturday and her all round game will take her a long way towards victory at Roland Garros.

Francesca Schiavone path to French Open Final

R1 Regina Kulikova 7-5, 3-6, 6-4
R2 Sophie Ferguson 6-2, 6-2
R3 Na Li 6-4, 6-2
R4 Maria Kirilenko 6-4, 6-4
QF Caroline Wozniacki 6-2, 6-3
SF Elena Dementieva 7-6(3) retired

Francesca Schiavone is the first Italian women’s player to reach a Grand Slam singles final and she was been aided by a more than handy draw early in the tournament.

Having said that, Schiavone demolished Na Li, Kirilenko and Wozniacki in straight sets before leading Dementia by one set in the Semi before Dementia retired hurt and Schiavone made her way to her first Grand Slam final.

2010 French Open Women’s Final Betting

Leading Australian bookmaker Sportsbet has Schiavone the underdog at $4.90 to win this match and the in-form Australian Stosur is $1.18 to land her first grand lam title.

Head To Head	Odds		Set Betting	Odds	Set Betting	Odds
S Stosur	1.18		2-0	1.52	2-1	4.20
F Schiavone	4.90		2-0	8.00	2-1	8.50
Total Sets	Odds		Total Games	Odds
Under 2.5	1.33		Under 19.5	1.91
Over 2.5	3.00		Over 19.5	1.80

Who will win the 2010 French Open Women’s Final?

Stosur has won her last four matches against Schiavone without dropping a set and the Australian’s effort to beat two past champions to reach the final is some feat and will have Stosur full of confidence going into this game.

As this past two weeks have shown, anything is possible in tennis and Schiavone has the type of game that can adapt to the occasion, but Stosur’s ability to steam roll her opponents with a quality serve and powerful ground strokes make her the one to beat here.

We like Sam Stosur in straight sets.