Superfit Schiavone not blaming fatigue

Superfit Italian Francesca Schiavone refused to blame fatigue for her narrow quarter-final loss to Caroline Wozniacki yesterday, despite playing for nearly five hours two days earlier.

Schiavone, who played the longest match in women’s Grand Slam history on Sunday, was up a set and a break at 3-1 in the second, before the world number one fought back to win 3-6, 6-3, 6-3.

The determined Schiavone saved three match points before pushing a backhand just wide to hand Wozniacki the match.

The reigning French Open champion was coming off Sunday’s marathon fourth-round match, when she beat Russia’s Kuznetsova in a record 4hr 44min.

However, the 30-year-old said she simply failed to take her chances against Wozniacki and dismissed suggestions tiredness played a big role.

“I had my chance anyway,” she said.

“Maybe in the third set I felt a little bit something physically, but it’s not an excuse.”

Despite her heartbreaking loss, Schiavone’s pain was eased by news she was set to reach a career-high ranking of world number four, the best ever achieved by an Italian woman. It’s also equal with the highest ever by an Italian male, Adriano Pannatta in 1976.

“I am happy,” she said, with a clenched fist raised in triumph.

“I worked hard to arrive here, so I’m very happy, it’s fantastic. I want to keep going.”