The triumph of determination: Francesca Schiavone, Italian tennis icon

Heart, passion, and grit are the characteristics that allowed tennis legend Francesca Schiavone to overcome the challenges of sport and life.
Protagonist of an extraordinary career, in July 2023 she was honored in the ‘Sport and Life’ category of the Fair Play Menarini International Award.

This recognition celebrates the perseverance of the Milan-born tennis player. She has claimed 15 WTA singles and doubles titles, including the Roland Garros 2010 victory. Notably, she became the first Italian woman to win a French Open trophy and to reach the fourth spot in the global rankings.
Francesca Schiavone has competed for over two decades, demonstrating remarkable dedication, respect for the rules, and unwavering loyalty. Her contributions have significantly elevated the status of tennis in Italy and served as an inspiration to aspiring players of the future. Moreover, she has pioneered opportunities for other Italian women, like Sara Errani and Roberta Vinci, who subsequently found success on the global stage.
“My parents taught me the importance of discipline and dedication to work” Francesca explained, reflecting on her upbringing. “I count myself lucky because from a young age, I grasped the importance of giving my all to reach a goal. Equally crucial is acknowledging that mistakes happen: difficulties will always be part of everyone’s journey.”
Despite her tournaments and trophies, Francesca had to face a much tougher battle against cancer, diagnosed in 2019. Her response was marked by courage, resilience, and determination. She continued to be a model of tenacity, displaying the same positive energy during the treatment period as she did on the tennis court.

In 2020, Francesca defeated illness. She recounted this in her book “La mia Rinascita” (My Rebirth), where she talks about finding the strength to overcome life’s adversities. Since then, she has intensified her support for young talents, offering them all her experience for their growth.
“This recognition is like a Grammy Award for me” declared Francesca Schiavone on stage during the 27th Fair Play Menarini International Award. “I thank Menarini for managing to communicate the ethics of sport. To the young people, I say: go beyond your limits, it’s a continuous search. Through the young, we can all grow. I am constantly trying to understand them because we come from a different generation, very focused on discipline. We need to understand what the young people need.”
The new projects for young tennis players focus on promoting the educational values of sports. Supporting them is the strongly committed figure of Francesca Schiavone, who embodies the role of Fair Play Ambassador excellently.