04/06/2010 13:00 CEST - INTERVIEW

F.Schiavone - 04.06.10

Q. You've kissed the court the last two times you've won. If you're able to be victorious on Saturday, what will your reaction be?
FRANCESCA SCHIAVONE: I take all the clay like this, and I bring home (Scooping hands together.)
Q. How did you celebrate yesterday your victory? How is the support back home getting to you here in Paris?
FRANCESCA SCHIAVONE: I had to leave my mobile phone in the room because I couldn't keep going through to have the cramps to my dito (finger.)
No, was great. Was fantastic. All the people call me, but at the end we went just four person to eat something, to enjoy. We went to drink something and I went to sleep. I was tired.

Q. Looking forward to your match tomorrow against Samantha, you played a couple of times. You know her game very well. She's serving big. She's strong. You're little. You're brave. But have you got up to certain tactics for tomorrow's match?
FRANCESCA SCHIAVONE: For sure I have to study how to play against her, but I can say that the most important thing is to give the best that I have, and to try to stay always aggressive when I can.
Of course is the key for every top player's level.

Q. Do you have a way to cope with nerves tomorrow? Do you know what to expect and how to deal with that?
FRANCESCA SCHIAVONE: With nerves, you say?

Q. Nerves.
FRANCESCA SCHIAVONE: For sure I will be nervous with tension. I think is one of the best feeling that I can personally feeling. So is good is coming my mental trainer, so maybe he can help me a little bit.
Is good chance. I want to just live and enjoy my moment, my life.

Q. You have a mental trainer?
FRANCESCA SCHIAVONE: Yes, I think everybody here have mental I hope for you. (Laughter.)

Q. From how long are you waiting for this moment?
FRANCESCA SCHIAVONE: A life. Si, a life because I think everybody I think I was born to play tennis, so this a dream, and this is reality now.
So I want to live, like I say before, I want to really enjoy.

Q. Your face is so expressive.
FRANCESCA SCHIAVONE: It is not good, this.

Q. I know. We're not talking about that now.
FRANCESCA SCHIAVONE: I joke.

Q. But at Fed Cup in the quarters, then in the semis, your face is just full of joy. Where does that come from?
FRANCESCA SCHIAVONE: Is coming from who I am, my personality. I am like this in the court. I am like this outside of my life. So it is much more easy to show and to be who I am than something maybe building.
So I choose to be here, and I like it.

Q. So when you get a good glass of wine, you are thrilled and...
FRANCESCA SCHIAVONE: Oh, yesterday I tried French champagne. I can say that it's very good. (Laughter.)
But I can't say to many that it is better than Italian. Maybe tomorrow I will try another one.

Q. What is your relationship with Italian journalists?
FRANCESCA SCHIAVONE: That's tough. (Laughter.)
No, I think I'm improving like a person, so I can show them much more who I am and what I do. And I think they are starting to understand my personality and how I play so I can have a better relationship with them.
I never went to take a drink or a dinner, but maybe I will do it. Depends. If they pay, I will do it. (Laughter.)

Q. Obviously you want to win tomorrow, but I'm wondering, because Samantha's circumstances are somewhat similar as far as, you know, she's been playing a long time and this is a new experience for her, will there be a shared sense of accomplishment, a shared energy in a way on the court tomorrow, do you think? Can you collectively appreciate the moment, do you think?
FRANCESCA SCHIAVONE: Yes. We know each other very good. I think she deserve to be here. She played so good in the last two years. I know that she work a lot.
I think she know my way, so will be good energy, and for sure will win the best one, the player that can play more relaxing than the other, because we have good play both.
Different, but good play.

Q. Yesterday I speak to Mauresmo, Pierce, Dechy, everybody, Golovin, everybody like you very much. It is only the French girl, or every players on the circuit?
FRANCESCA SCHIAVONE: Every players, of course. (Laughter.)
No, we are Latin. We know each other good. All the girls that you nominate, I come from junior with them, so I think I know other players I say yesterday that is fantastic that I come back to the locker room and the girls, the players say to me, Congrats. I am very happy for you. You deserve it. Good luck for the next round.
Maybe they do also with Sam. I don't know. But I think about me, and I am happy.

Q. Samantha said she would be the higher seed in the final.
FRANCESCA SCHIAVONE: Yeah.

Q. I think it make you some sort of underdog in the final, and, well, that will give you more desire to win or you just sort of like, oh, I have nothing to lose? I just enjoy the moment?
FRANCESCA SCHIAVONE: Nothing to lose? No. When you want something you have always something to lose. So for sure she has better ranking, so is her turn to go to take this trophy.
But tennis is a sport, so in the sport, you never know what's going on. The best will go to win. Many things together can do that you can win a trophy.
For sure I will enter on the court to enjoy and to give really the best that I have.

Q. How do you see Stosur as an opponent?
FRANCESCA SCHIAVONE: She's very strong, great power. She improve so mentally, physically a lot.
I think will be very tough and very close match, and will be a lot of tactics in the court. I think like this.

Q. Most clever will win?
FRANCESCA SCHIAVONE: Most clever? (Through translation.)

Q. Smart.
FRANCESCA SCHIAVONE: Ah, can be. Si, si, si. Can be. I hope, otherwise tomorrow you say, You are stupid.

Q. Is it just coincidence that it's you and Sam playing with spin, or do you think the women's game is heading more and more in that direction now?
FRANCESCA SCHIAVONE: No, I don't think so. I think you're born with this kind of play.
But for sure tennis, woman tennis is becoming really aggressive, more and more and more.
We have a different way, me, Sam, Justine. But you born like this, I think. You can't ask me to serve 200 per hour or to hit the forehand flat, because I say, I'm sorry, I mistake sport. Everybody are different, have good characteristic.