Starting on December 7—the 25th day left in 2010—TENNIS.com will countdown from the year-end No. 25 on both tours with "The Last Word," a look back at the year that was and a look ahead at the season to come. Here's who we've looked at so far.
Best of 2010
In 12 years as a pro, Schiavone had never reached a Grand Slam semifinal. That all changed at Roland Garros, when the gritty Italian ousted Na Li, Maria Kirilenko, Caroline Wozniacki, Elena Dementieva and finally Sam Stosur to improbably win the title.
Worst of 2010
You can’t blame Schiavone for a letdown following a monumental run, can you? No, but you can’t ignore it, either. The 30-year-old struggled after her triumph at Roland Garros, losing four of her next five matches—all to players ranked outside the Top 45.
Year in Review
Schiavone unquestionably had the season of her career in 2010, and her French Open victory was the feel-good story of the year in tennis. It wasn’t her only highlight, though. The Italian also won Barcelona, made an unlikely push to the quarterfinals of the U.S. Open, and capped off the year with another Fed Cup title. For the first time, Schiavone ended the season in the Top 10. At the core of her success was her ability to make mid-match adjustments. Despite being one of the shorter players on tour (just over 5’5”), Schiavone has a strong all-court game, giving her another method to defeat more powerful opponents. Having an above-average forehand and one-handed backhand helps.
See for Yourself
When Schiavone reached the French Open semis, most analysts were outspoken in their belief that she would soon crumble. It was that overwhelming doubt that made her eventual triumph so special. When Stosur awkwardly hit the final ball towards the seats, the dream became a reality:
The Last Word
Schiavone had a terrific year, but the fact is she’ll be 31 next summer. Faced with younger players eager to move up the rankings (Victoria Azarenka, Shahar Peer, Agnieszka Radwanska) and former stars primed to return to the top (Jelena Jankovic, Maria Sharapova), staying in the Top 10 will be a tough ask for Schiavone—but the Top 20 seems doable.
—Brad Kallet