Italian Open: why was Francesca Schiavone snubbed for a wildcard?

Italian Open: play is underway and one question must be asked. Why was Francesca Schiavone snubbed for a wildcard?

It would be her last year playing the Italian Open and then she’d retire.

The chance to say ‘so long’ to her country people and fans would have meant a lot to her and the tennis community.

More from Lob and Smash

When Francesca Schiavone announced her retirement in January, much of the tennis world shook their heads in disbelief but realized that she’s had so many lackluster performances in her career.

She had decided to walk away from this game after an opening round loss to a qualifier from Croatia Jana Fett at Hobart 6-3, 6-2.

Schiavone had turned the thought around so many times in her head, more than the revolutions of a tennis ball during a serve if she should leave.

"“This is my last year of tennis…that’s why I am upset…[I] didn’t give the best here”, she had said. But like most sports it was a lack of motivation and fitness driving Francesca to retire."

Many fans and the tennis community were disgusted that the Italian Open tennis director didn’t grant Francesca Schiavone a wild card but gave one to Maria Sharapova. It would have been who draws the most fans and patrons. It may have also been about their looks. Francesca isn’t seen as glamorous as Sharapova and at 36, she is at the end of her career and her rankings aren’t good.

She is ranked No. 77 after all of the years as a professional tennis player.

"She was able to receive a wildcard into the Bogota Claro Open Colsanitas 2017 event and won it, saying “In this moment I have memories of my championship in Roland Garros…I have always had very good performances on clay. It was too long since I won a title and I am very pleased to win again”."

She defeated Lara Arruabarrena, a much younger player than herself giving Schiavone the confidence that she still can win matches and even tournaments. She wanted so much to play the Italian Open but at the last minute the organizers granted her the wild card, and yet she had already travelled to Miami straight from playing the Madrid Open and was unable to get back to Rome in time. The fact of just being in Rome would have been good but yet many younger fans don’t really even know who Schiavone is. The point was that she is from Italy, a hometown favorite that most would think would be there for her last appearance before retirement.

Next: Genie Bouchard: Top 5 Career Highlights

Maria Sharapova was chosen over Schiavone for the wild card because she is still attractive, 30 years old and controversial. People want to see how she practices and how she will play after her 15-month absence from the sport due to her drug ban. Patrons and fans are curious and she, right now, sells tickets.

This was the basic reason for Sharapova getting chosen over Schiavone for the wild card. As for the next wildcard, at print time, Sharapova was denied a wildcard for Roland Garros’ qualifying and the main draw and yet she hasn’t accumulated enough points on her previous wins to enter freely any tournament.

"The President of the French Federation of Tennis, Bernard Giudicelli said that he didn’t award her one because “…it’s my responsibility, my mission, to protect the high standards of the game played without any doubt on the result”."

So the tennis wars go on and everyone now knows that Sharapova will not be at the French Open. Francesca Schiavone wonders also if she even will be, but it seems like if Sharapova is out, she may have that one chance to be given the French Open wildcard and to enjoy her last hurrah at Roland Garros so say ‘see ya’ to all of her fans who supported her throughout her career.

Check back for updates on the men’s ATP World Tour, the women’s WTA Tour, and other tennis news from Lob and Smash.

Home/Opinion