Age no barrier as veterans redefine success

Published by Leigh Rogers

STILL FIGHTING: Passion still drives former top five stars Tommy Robredo and Francesca Schiavone; Getty Images
Veterans Tommy Robredo and Francesca Schiavone are shining examples of the power of passion and perseverance.

Eight years ago Francesca Schiavone was the French Open champion. As the Italian held aloft her first Grand Slam title, a packed Court Philippe Chatrier crowd loudly applauded – and so did millions of tennis fans worldwide.

Returning to Stade Roland Garros this week, Schiavone was not met with the same fanfare.

Now almost 38 years old and ranked No.265, Schiavone is grinding it out in qualifying in the hope of earning a place in the French Open main draw for an 18th time.

The former world No.4 made a winning start to her campaign, defeating 22-year-old Canadian Carol Zhao 6-4 3-6 6-3 in a rain-delayed first round match on Court 6 that took two hours and 31 minutes.

It was Schiavone’s first win since October last year, snapping a seven-match losing streak.

“It’s fantastic. Now I can go home, drink some wine – and I’m really very, very happy,” Schiavone said after the match.

But five-time French Open quarterfinalist and former world No.5 Tommy Robredo’s hopes of also qualifying are over.

The 36-year-old No.168-ranked Robredo was eliminated in the first round of qualifying by Italian Simone Bolelli – a former world No.36 who at 32 could also be considered a veteran.

Robredo had arrived in Paris after winning his first title in five years at an ATP Challenger in Lisbon last week – a result that saw him shed tears of joy.

Yet the emotional rollercoaster of tennis is familiar to the Spaniard, especially following his toil to return from elbow surgery in 2016.

“I like what I do, I think that’s the easiest thing,” Robredo told Tennismash last year when asked if it was difficult to keep playing in qualifying and lower-level events.

Schiavone echoed a similar sentiment this week: “I have this drug called tennis which runs through my veins. As soon as I am in a competition, I feel it and I immediately want to go on to the court. I was born this way.”

Roger Federer, Venus Williams and Serena Williams are high-profile examples of age being no barrier to success, rewriting the history books with their feats in recent seasons. But is success really just defined by rankings and titles?

Not according to Brazilian Bruno Soares, a 36-year-old currently ranked No.12 in doubles, who tweeted about his respect for both Robredo and Schiavone this week:

Soares is right. The determination and heart shown by veterans such as Robredo and Schiavone, even when the spotlight isn’t shining so brightly, is worth celebrating. By simply still competing, they are already winners – and that makes them just as deserving of applause.

Share this: 
  • Most popular articles

6 September 2017

Andrey Rublev was in a One Direction cover band

Yes, you read that right. Tomorrow, Andrey Rublev is going to walk out on court to play th... More

16 February 2017

Men’s and women’s tennis: as different as believ...

In the first part of our series analysing the similarities and differences between men's ... More

14 July 2016

What if they weren’t tennis players…?

For Novak Djokovic it came down to three courts being built near his parents’ pizzeria; ... More

13 November 2017

Federer misfires when distracted by Sock’s butt

Jack Sock had just played half volley against Roger Federer at the ATP Finals that lofted... More