September, 4th 2003
US Open
To face the physical onslaught of Jennifer Capriati, most players need a day
off and a good night's sleep.
Franscesca Schiavone had about two hours - time enough for a shower and a rubdown.
Not so fresh from her on-again, off-again, come-from-behind victory over Ai
Sugiyama, a match that lasted four days, Schiavone was crushed by an
unsympathetic Capriati, 6-1, 6-3, in the second night match at Arthur Ashe Stadium.
Schiavone has an athletic build, with strong legs and broad shoulders, but
she was no match for the impatient Capriati, the No. 6 seed on a mission to
advance to her third US Open semifinal.
The 32nd-ranked Italian made it to the quarterfinals with a dramatic,
oft-derailed Round of 16 match that was concluded when the clouds finally
parted on Thursday. She played a set and a half before meeting Capriati.
Schiavone had no reserves left after her mid-afternoon encounter. Though she
began loose enough to break Capriati in her first service game, that would
be her only game of the first set. Capriati cruised to a 6-1 win in just 26
minutes.
Schiavone runs well and has a good-looking one-handed backhand and flick of
a forehand, but Capriati has raised her game since winning the Pilot Pen
title in New Haven the week before the Open. She looks to be on a roll.
The Floridian, who has never advanced to the US Open final, hugged the
baseline and slugged deep winners en route to the win. Although her
intensity dropped in the second, much more competitive set, Capriati was
never in danger of losing.
She now meets Justine Henin-Hardenne, the No. 2 seed, in a much-anticipated
semifinal showdown.
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