Schiavone 'shaken' by Roland Garros return
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Defending French Open champion Francesca Schiavone said she felt like she had come home after cruising into the second round with a 6-2, 6-0 victory over American 19-year-old Melanie Oudin on Monday.
The fifth-seeded Schiavone, who last year became the first Italian woman to win a Grand Slam title, will face either Britain's Anne Keothavong or Russian Vesna Dolonts for a place in round three.
"I'm still shaking a little bit," admitted Schiavone, after returning to Court Philippe Chatrier, the scene of her emotional victory over Australia's Samantha Stosur in last year's final.
"There was a lot of adrenaline. I felt really happy to be there.”
"That court is fantastic because it's compact and the court is perfect. It goes all around you.”
"It's like when you go home and your mum does everything for you and you feel comfortable. I felt like this, but with a lot of adrenaline.”
"I was excited to be there at 11 o'clock on centre court."
Schiavone exchanged breaks of serve with Oudin early in the first set before breaking again twice to open up a 4-1 lead.
Having found range with her groundstrokes, the 30-year-old asserted her authority with some tenacious shot-making before converting set point at the fifth attempt when Oudin was unable to return a plunging forehand.
A measured backhand winner down the line earned Schiavone her second break of the second set and with it a 3-0 lead, and she closed out a 62-minute victory on her first match point when Oudin could only swat a return into the net.
The Italian has yet to reach a final this year, with a semifinal showing at Brussels last week her best performance to date, but she insisted she had no concerns about her form.
"I already said in Rome (where she lost to Stosur in the quarterfinals) that when you win a lot of matches, you arrive at a Grand Slam with a better feeling, but I am really particular," said Schiavone.
"Every time, there is a preparation - mentally, tactically, physically - but some days I feel much better than before."
Having had to wait until the age of 29 to taste Grand Slam success, Schiavone believes getting older and wiser has had a positive impact on her life both on and off the court.
"I am more conscious of who I am and what I want," she said, when asked to explain the reasons behind the Indian summer of her career.
"I think a lot of experience comes through in everything I'm doing. Not just tennis, but life. Before I was unsure about stuff, but now it's much better."
She then told journalists: "I'm a little bit late, perhaps. Late for you, but not for me!"
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