FRANCE: TENNIS: Fans arrive for women's French Open final between Italy's Francesca Schiavone and Samatha Stosur of Australia

Record ID: 1534897

  • Title: FRANCE: TENNIS: Fans arrive for women's French Open final between Italy's Francesca Schiavone and Samatha Stosur of Australia
  • Date: 6th June 2010
  • Summary: PARIS, FRANCE (JUNE 5, 2010) (REUTERS) VARIOUS EXTERIORS OF THE ROLAND GARROS STADIUM FANS LINING UP OUTSIDE THE STADIUM Policemen and security outside the stadium (SOUNDBITE) (French) TENNIS FAN SAYING: "She's not that well known. I haven't seen her play too often but I saw the matches she has played here so far and I think she is capable of coming out on top!" (SOUNDBITE) (English) OLIVIER, TENNIS FAN, SAYING: "I think I will support the Italian. Why? Because given her incandescent journey up till here, now is the moment for her to shine." WIDE VIEW ROLAND GARROS
  • Embargoed: 20th June 2010 23:42
  • Keywords:
  • Location: France
  • Country: France
  • Topics: Sport
  • Reuters ID: LVAET5BT3HNM95OO8N7QHYDZIGVA
  • Aspect Ratio: 4:3
  • Story Text: Excited tennis fans lined up early on Saturday (June 5) outside the Roland Garros stadium in Paris for the women's French Open final between Australia's Samantha Stosur and Francesca Schiavone of Italy.
    Under sunny skies, queueing fans were split on who they wanted to win. One tennis follower said he was rooting for Stosur.
    He said : "She's not that well known. I haven't seen her play too often but I saw the matches she has played here so far and I think she is capable of coming out on top.".
    On Thursday Stosur completed a remarkable hat-trick of victories at the French Open to reach her first grand slam singles final, thrashing Jelena Jankovic 6-1 6-2 with an hour-long display of faultless claycourt tennis.
    The 26-year-old had already accounted for four-times French Open winner Justine Henin in the fourth round and world number one Serena Williams in the last eight and few would bet against her crowning a magnificent rise on Saturday against Italy's Francesca Schiavone.
    This time last year Stosur was turning heads when she reached the semi-finals at Roland Garros. Her progress since, including her first two WTA singles titles, has finally shaken off the 'doubles specialist' tag.
    Another, Olivier, thought Schiavone would win. "I think I will support the Italian, " he said " Why? Because given her incandescent journey up till here, now is the moment for her to shine."
    The 29-year-old Italian reached the final after Elena Dementieva pulled out of the semi-final with a calf injury.
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