Nothing is impossible!  This was the phrase on the t-shirt worn by Francesca Schiavone’s family and friends today in the French Open final.  Schiavone proved the axiom by surprising Samantha Stosur 6-4, 7-6 to grab her first career major.  Moreover, Schiavone stenciled her name in history by becoming the first Italian female to prevail at a major.

With a deep and low backhand pass, Schiavone caused Stosur to hit the next stroke long.  As a result, the Italian had double break point in third game of the second set.  However, with a three winners and an unreturnable serve, Stosur guarded serve for 2-1.  Then, by punishing second serves, Stosur had her first break point of the day with a forehand up the line winner. Stosur capitalized when Schiavone’s forehand up the line failed.  Promptly, Stosur consolidated with a love game for 4-1.  Following a quick hold, Schiavone produced a backhand return winner crosscourt, a forehand winner and made Stosur err with the backhand to arrive at love-40.  Later, by stabbing at a superb serve, Schiavone got a miscue on a short forehand from Stosur to get back on serve at 3-4.  Despite the mounting pressure, Schiavone remained aggressive and comfortably maintained serve.  Eventually, the set was settled in a tiebreaker.  Schiavone secured a mini-break for 3-2 by tracking Stosur’s dropshot and converting a backhand up the line winner.  The Italian extended her lead to 5-2 with a forehand volley winner and forehand crosscourt winner.  Subsequently, with a crosscourt backhand volley winner, Schiavone obtained a second mini-break and four championship points.  When Stosur’s stroke off the return traveled out of play, Schiavone bagged the second set and the French Open trophy.  Schiavone rejoiced by painting her lips red with a clay kiss, duplicating this jubilant sign she had shown in the quarters and semis.

Stosur, the world number 7 and 2009 semifinalist, had a 12-2 record coming into Paris.  The titlist in Charleston and the runner-up in Stuttgart to Justine Henin, Stosur was sizzling.  In the round of 16, after dropping the first set, Stosur roared back to defeat Henin, the four time French Open champion.  In the quarterfinals, after a hiccup in the second set, Stosur salvaged match point by Serena Williams to triumph in overtime in the third.  Moreover, in the semifinals, the Aussie pulverized Jelena Jankovic to earn her first berth in a final at a major.  After demolishing a bevy of current and former world number one, with a 4-1 record against Schiavone, even beating the Italian last year at Roland Garros and in the finals in Osaka for her maiden WTA tour title, all arrows pointed in Stosur’s favor.  Perhaps, the onus of trying to become the first Aussie female since Evonne Goolagong Cawley at Wimbledon in 1980 to hoist the big prize at a major was too much for Stosur.

Schiavone, ranked 17, had been a three time quarterfinalist at a major including Roland Garros in 2001.   After a title in Barcelona to beginning her clay season, Schiavone exited early in Stuttgart, Rome and Madrid, entering Paris with an 8-3 record.  Schiavone struggled in the opening round, losing the first set to Regina Kulikova ranked 70th , before pulling through.  But, in the third round, Schiavone dismissed Na Li.  In the round of 16, Schiavone dispatched Maria Kirilenko who had ousted defending champion Svetlana Kuznetsova.  In the quarterfinals, Schiavone befuddled Wozniacki, winning in straight sets to become the first Italian woman to advance to the semifinals at a major.  Lastly, after taking the first set tiebreaker, Schiavone got a pass to the finals when a calf injury forced Elena Dementieva to throw in the towel.  With this win, on Monday, Schiavone catapults to number 6 in the rankings while Stosur will maintain in the number 7 spot.

When it comes to the women’s tour, one’s odds of hitting the center on the dart board are far better than accurately prognosticating, particularly on clay.  All the so-called favorites, Dementieva, Serena, Jankovic, Henin and Stosur were disappointed.  Today, Schiavone proved once again on any given day, at any given age, Schiavone is 18 day shy of her 30th birthday, even at a major, an improbable champion can be born.

Although this was Wozniacki’s first final at a major, the Dane almost pulled off the role of spoiler. After Caroline dropped serve her first time out to give Kim a 2-0 lead, on her fifth break chance, she captured her first game.  Then through her tenacity, Wozniacki compelled a crosscourt backhand error from Kim to break for a  3-2 edge. After teetering on the brink, Wozniacki double faulted to level the set at 4 all.  However, the very next game, Caroline’s defensive skills helped her rally from 0-40 and break again for 5-4.  But, serving for the set, Wozniacki faced another break point when Clijsters produced a forehand winner.  The Dane was unable to exterminate that one as her forehand up the line sailed long and evened out the set.  Unable to capitalize on two break chances, Wozniacki subsequently made four unforced errors to wrap up the set for Clijsters.

After being miserly the first five games of the second set, with neither woman dealing with a break point, two forehand winners and a backhand mistake by Wozniacki provided Clijsters triple break point.  When Caroline’s backhand landed long, Clijsters went ahead 4-2.  Then, after staring at 0-30, Kim made a couple of good serves and winners which permitted her to consolidate for 5-2.  Despite a tough hold, Wozniacki forced Clijsters to serve for the championship. A tad nervous perhaps, Kim made two forehand booboos to go down 0-30.  Once Clijsters regrouped, with an ace and two forehand winners, she closed out the set to claim her second major and U.S. Open title.

Post match, Clijsters admitted that this run had been dream.  That she “was glad to defend [her] title from 2005″.  According to Clijsters, the support from fans and family had been invaluable in pushing her to fight harder.  Without a doubt, that was a key to Kim’s victory over Marion Bartoli, Serena and Venus Williams. Furthermore, Clijsters became the first mother since Evan Goolagong in 1980 to prevail at a major. With this result, Clijsters earns a spot in the top 20.

It wasn’t a bad fortnight for Wozniacki as she became the first Danish player to compete in the finals of a major.  Caroline’s current number 9 ranking will be boosted.  Moreover, with youth on her side, the possibilities are infinite for Wozniacki.