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Britain’s Anne Keothavong on BBC Two: “The balls are different and more lively. That is suiting Li Na more. It’s faster and will suit someone who hits the ball flatter – she’s dominated and she’s really going for it. She hits the ball so sweetly and is moving around well. Schiavone does look a little tense out there so she doesn’t look as though she has settled yet.”
BBC Sport’s Piers Newbery on Twitter:
“Allez Na Li!” has a nice ring to it, plenty of it ringing around Chatrier at the moment too. She’s playing well, serving brilliantly.”
FIRST SET:
*Schiavone 4-6 Li
Li receives an absolutely gift from Schiavone to get us going, the Italian lashing a routine service return wide after taking an unnecessarily huge backswing. That sets the tempo of the game and before we know it, Li has a couple of set points. Schiavone does everything she can to stay alive but it’s delaying the inevitable… the Italian nets and Li takes the opening set.
* Denotes next server
Schiavone 4-5 Li*
Italy’s first and only Grand Slam singles champion to date races to 40-0 and, despite Li rallying in point four to get her name on the board, she gets over the line when the sixth seed flings a groundstroke wide. “The next game will be very interesting,” predicts Andrew Castle on BBC Two. “It’s all well and good getting yourself into this position, now you’ve got to see it out.”
* Denotes next server
*Schiavone 3-5 Li
Schiavone’s making plenty of noise but negligible impact on the Li serve. Another comfortable hold for the Chinese player means her opponent, the defending champion lest we forget, will now serve to stay in the opening set.
* Denotes next server
Schiavone 3-4 Li*
Perfect response from Schiavone. A hold to love and big cheers from the crowd. “Forza Francesca [clap clap clap clap clap], Forza Francesca.” Something I should’ve mentioned earlier… in 30-year-old Schiavone and 29-year-old Li, we’re seeing the biggest combined age for a Grand Slam final since Jana Novotna played Nathalie Tauziat at Wimbledon in 1998. “The years can help a lot,” said Schiavone. “Maybe it’s changing a bit because some years ago the champions were always young players: Martina Hingis, the Williamses. Now that’s changing. “It’s like wine: if it stays in the bottle more it’s much, much better.”
* Denotes next server
*Schiavone 2-4 Li
Well, well, well. Li outhits her opponent once more to some breathing space with a hold to love. “If she keeps hitting through her opponent, she wins,” says Andrew Castle on BBC Two. Co-commentator Sam Smith thinks it will be interesting to see how Li copes if and when Schiavone launches a revival, suggesting the 29-year-old’s emotions have been known to get the better of her. Anyway, so far so good as far as Li’s concerned.
* Denotes next server
Schiavone 2-3 Li*
Lots of smiling, cheering and flag-waving from Li’s fans in the stands as their girl dispatches a backhand at the net for 15-40 and two break points. Schiavone digs in to save the first, but on the second she can’t control a groundstroke. Li breaks.
* Denotes next server
*Schiavone 2-2 Li
The wonder from Wuhan reels off another forehand winner to level us up. “Li wants a hard-court match out here today and Schiavone wants an old-fashioned clay-court encounter.” Li has never won a title on the red dirt. Or any other coloured clay, for that matter.
* Denotes next server
BBC Sport’s Piers Newbery at Roland Garros:
“It’s a muggy one on Chatrier but still bright thankfully. Already a good battle between Li’s flat hitting and Schiavone’s kick serve/topspin”
Former British number one Andrew Castle on BBC Two: “The crowd like Schiavone. She’s animated, full of heart, she kissed the clay of Roland Garros when she last won year and she did the same at this year’s semi-final. They know less about Li Na.”
Schiavone 2-1 Li*
These two have met four times previously with two wins apiece – and there’s precious little to choose between them the early stages today. Li’s taking some big risks out there with mixed results. A booming forehand winner takes her to 30-30 and Sam Smith on BBC Two says: “If she can keep that up, she’ll win this match.” Sam, by the way, has pick the Chinese star to edge it. Schiavone, meanwhile, gets to game point and this time a Li forehand sails long.
* Denotes next server
*Schiavone 1-1 Li
Lots of pre-match talk about Schiavone’s top spin and slices versus Li’s flat, power shots. Well, so far we’ve seen a bit of everything from both ladies. Li crafts her way to 40-0 before Schiavone scampers all over the place to fight her way back with a hard-earned couple of points. Li comes through for a solid hold, strong starts all round.
* Denotes next server
Schiavone 1-0 Li*
And the first game of the 2011 French Open women’s final goes with serve. Although not without a scare. A couple of brilliantly controlled winners hand Li a break point at 30-40, but Schiavone ups the intensity, gets that ball spinning viciously and holds her nerve – and with it the game. “FRAN-CES-CA, FRAN-CES-CA!” chant a pocket on fans in the crowd.
* Denotes next server
BBC Sport’s Piers Newbery at Roland Garros:
“It might have been a bit overshadowed by the men but there’s a great atmosphere on Chatrier as Li Schiavone walk on court. Thumping music like at the O2 in November. Opinion is divided as to how this one will go, although not among the Schiavone fans who are decked out in black and pink today, and already making noise. A few Chinese flags around and lots of reporters.”
1412: Can Schiavone produce a repeat of
her 2010 triumph over Sam Stosur?
Or will Li become the first Asian to win a Grand Slam title? We’re about to find out. Schiavone to get us under way…
1410: A quick word from today’s underdog Li Na. “I never feel the pressure. If someone can stay behind you, push you a lot, it’s good,” says the little right-hander, who lost January’s Australian Open final to Kim Clijsters. “I like that.”
BBC Sport’s Piers Newbery at Roland Garros:
“It’s a bright, warm, muggy day in Paris and my decision to wear jeans for the first time this week has proved foolish. Let’s hope Li Na Francesca Schiavone haven’t made a similar mistake. The verdict from an Italian journalist in the men’s room – “Last year Schiavone was not favourite, she won. This year she is favourite, so….” More men’s room updates to follow.”
1405: Plenty of support for both players on Court Philippe Chatrier. Just spotted a member of Li’s backroom team having his photo taken with the trophy at the front of the president’s box. Li enters to a huge ovation – but it’s trumped by the welcome Schiavone receives. She loves it here. They love her here. Warm-ups well under way.
shortshakes on Twitter at Roland Garros:
“Dream final for me. 2 players who wake up thinking ‘How can I win?’ not ‘What shall I wear?’. So good for the game.”
1355: Schiavone may have much of Italy (60.6m) and Europe (population 731m) on her side but Li will benefit from the backing of China (1.3bn) and Asia (3.9bn). WOW. The 29-year-old is bidding to become the first Asian to win a Grand Slam title, although Michael Chang – the American son of Chinese-born parents – did triumph at Roland Garros in 1989.
1350: There’s plenty at stake for ladies today. Defending champion Schiavone is bidding to become only the sixth woman to retain the French Open title since tennis turned professional in 1968. Margaret Smith Court, Chris Evert, Steffi Graf, Monica Seles and Justine Henin are the others. “(When I was young) I played first round, second round and then I lost in the quarter-finals in the girls’ tournament,” Schiavone recalled. “During that week there was a big match, Graf, Steffi Graf, against Monica Seles. I remember that I went there with the camera to take a picture. Every year before I come here, I look at that picture; this one picture.”
1345: As Annie K points out, Schiavone v Li will be live from BBC Two at 1400 BST. How does she know? Well, she’ll be on the sofa alongside our Sue to bring you some mighty fine expert analysis. You can also watch proceedings on the Red Button and the video console at the top of this page. Audio updates on BBC Radio 5 live.
Britain’s Anne Keothavong on Twitter at Roland Garros:
“Tune in to the French Open women’s final on BBC2 at 2pm today. Who do you think will take the title home? I originally predicted Sharapova and Djokovic to win in Paris but have be proven wrong. Na Li to win? I’ll probably be wrong again.”
1335: Welcome, one and all, to our live and uninterrupted coverage of the last match of the women’s clay-court season. It’ll take some effort to live up to the drama of
Fabulous Friday
but you never know. I’m very excited. You? Here’s to Sensational Saturday.
1330: In the blue corner, aged 30 and seeded fifth, standing at 5ft 5ins and weighing 141lbs, with four WTA titles including one Grand Slam and career prize money of $7.5m – from Milan, Italy…. FRANCESCA SCHIAVONE. In the red corner, aged 29 and seeded seventh, standing at 5ft 7ins and weighing 143lbs, with four WTA titles and career prize money on $4.8m – from Wuhan, China… LI NA. This of a best-of-three set contest for the Coupe Suzanne Lenglen and a place in history. Ladies and gentlemen, it’s with great pleasure that I give you… the 2011 French Open women’s final.
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