Roland Garros 2011 Day 6: Schiavone v Peng

Day 6 and the weather was looking fine as we set off. That being said, as we got off the bus to walk to the stadium it started to rain on us, even though over the grounds itself, there was bright sunlight. I made sure I'd remembered to pack the camera this time as there were two courts to cover!

Not the most convincing of starts for Schiavone but some good variation of play from the two of them. Peng hits flat and hard and Schiavone mixed up her shots and there was a lot of use of all of the court.

However - I think 13 minutes to close out that first service game after Peng hooked at a forehand was perhaps longer than she's hoped for. Not the most auspicious opening for the defending champion.

The standard of play from both in the first six games was good and aggressive; Schiavone coming into the net to close down Peng's options only for her to rip a passing shot alongside her. A good hold for Peng and both players seemed to be warming up a bit now.

Schiavone kept being magnetically drawn to the net, giving Peng an early break.

Meanwhile a quick check on twitter and Stosur was 0-4 down against Dulko so the chances of seeing her in the next set were diminishing!! Especially if every Schiavone service game was going to drag on and on!!

After a slightly more convincing hold by Schiavone to keep things to a single break, inexplicably after so much aggressive play, Peng was 0-40 down. She salvaged this with a beautiful cross-court volley that left Schiavone stranded. A beautiful well timed, well placed smash from a Peng moonball gave Schiavone the break back.

Sadly Peng was to retire in the second set in some distress.