Status: 2010 Roland Garros champion defeated Stosur in final. Member of Italy’s championship Fed Cup Team. Has career wins over Henin, Serena Williams, Patty Schnyder, Monica Seles, Kim Clijsters, Mauresmo, Elena Dementieva, Dinara Safina and Nadia Petrova. Reached French Open womens doubles final in 2008 (w/ Dellacqua).
Ht: 5-5 1/2 Wt: 141
DOB: June 23, 1980 in Milan, Italy.
Tennis Inspirations: “I think Agassi, Sampras when they played against each other a lot of times. I like to see each other, to fight together against. I like to see, when I was younger, Steffi Graf and Seles. Those people. Yes. Ivan Lendl, John McEnroe.”
Hobbies/Interests: “I like to read. To fly. (Airplanes? Hangliders?) Yes, and helicopters. But I don’t drive, I go. (Do you jump out and parachute?) No. But I will try. I like to write. And a lot to go with friends, to enjoy an evening. To stay with friends. (You write poetry?) Yes. When I go to the beach, what I see.”
Favorite Movies: “Cartoons [smiles]. Like Shrek, Tarzan, Disney a lot.”
Favorite TV Shows: “It’s Italian show. You know when someone organize against you something, it’s a joke? I like it.”
Musical Tastes: “I like…I’m Italian…Mina, Eros Ramazotti, Eliza, Madonna, Robbie Williams and some opera.”
Last Book Read: “How do you call it…’Il Cacciatore De Aquiloni’ by Khaled Hosseini.”
Favorite Meal: “Pizza.”
Favorite Ice Cream Flavor: “Licorice.”
First Tennis Memory: “Enjoy and like play volley. I remember that I was keep it going on the net (age 11).”
First Car: “That I bought — VW Golf (white).”
Current Car: “Mercedes (black).”
Greatest Sports Moments: “Winning Roland Garros. And the Fed Cup.”
Most Painful Moment: “Three or four years ago. When I don’t feel good myself, in me. I didn’t work very good. I had some problems at home. And everything was following me.”
Favorite Tournament: “Roland Garros.”
Pre-Match Feeling: “Many emotions. I believe so much in myself. And I try to stay focused on my play – don’t think about other things. Play and enjoy, really enjoy, from the heart.”
Favorite Players To Watch: “Federer against Nadal.”
Closest Tennis Friends: “No friends [laughs]. Some Italians.”
Funniest Players Encountered: “Me [smiles].”
Toughest Competitors: “Justine Henin.”
Funny Tennis Memory: “Four days, we’re at U.S. Open. Big, big match (fourth round vs. Ai Sugiyama), it was long four days. If I remember now I laugh. Rainy, rainy, keep going. Ball kids hit here (in face) glasses — the umpire. And she (opponent) had volley here to close the match and she missed. And I ran so much. And a mix of everything happened. Four days we keep going inside outside. (Schiavone won and made the 2003 U.S. Open quarterfinals.)”
Embarrassing Memory: “Come on, you’re too smart. Too smart questions [laughter]. Too hard for me.”
Last Vacation: “I really would like to go to South Africa. That’s all please [laughter]!!”
Just Two More: What match or two did you feel your very best, where you feel the joy of tennis most? “Often. Often I feel to enjoy tennis.”
And, Last Question — People Qualities Most Admired: “Respect. Passion. Funny.”
Topics: Dinara Safina, Elena Dementieva, Eros Ramazotti, Francesca Schiavone, Greatest Sports, Hobbies Interests, Ivan Lendl, John Mcenroe, Justine Henin, Khaled Hosseini, Kim Clijsters, Milan Italy, Monica Seles, Musical Tastes, Nadia Petrova, Painful Moment, Patty Schnyder, Roland Garros, Sports Moments, Steffi Graf, Tarzan Disney, Tennis Friends
Biofile with Francesca Schiavone | 
Congratulations Francesca,
Ur absolutely amazing,and im very happy for you,im from MONTREAL CANADA,and we might be family and thats what excites me more,i have an uncle that lives in Milan,and also my cousins.Stay in touch!
A presto!!
Such a great and talented fighter, I think you deserved going further. Best wishes from Birgitte from Denmark