Stosur, Schiavone to meet in Rome
Samantha Stosur set up a French Open final rematch with Francesca Schiavone after booking a spot in the quarter-finals of the Italian Open.
Rome, Italy, 13 May 2011 | AAP
Samantha Stosur set up a French Open final rematch with Francesca Schiavone after booking a spot in the quarter-finals of the Italian Open.
The Australian put an end to Slovenian qualifier Polona Hercog’s impressive run with a 6-3 6-4 win in the third round of the claycourt tournament on Thursday.
The victory ensures Stosur will face off against Italian veteran Schiavone, who showed her mettle as she came back from a set down to beat Daniela Hantuchova 3-6 6-2 7-5 in a two-and-a-half hour marathon.
Stosur lost to Schiavone in last year’s Roland Garros decider before scoring a consolation victory over the Italian at the season-ending championships in Doha.
Rome will be Stosur’s last tournament before the French Open gets underway on Sunday week.
Stosur is the last Australian left in the draw in Rome after Jarmila Gajdosova was soundly thrashed by Chinese fourth seed Li Na, 6-1 6-2.