Francesca Schiavone will face Laura Pous Tio in round one of the Australian OpenYou can watch and bet on Schiavone v Pous Tio live for free at bet365 > live tennisWorld No. 11 Francesca Schiavone has been in decent, yet perhaps a little unremarkable form in the early stages of the 2012 season, and she’ll have her sights set on a lengthy run at the Australian Open. The former world No. 4 isn’t one of the main contenders for the Melbourne title this year, but given the resilient nature of her game and her superb athleticism she shouldn’t be written off.
The Italian is scheduled to open her campaign here on Monday with a first round clash against Laura Pous Tio of Spain. Pous Tio has been in and out of the top hundred over the past six years, and she’s currently ranked at a career high of No. 72 in the world. Whilst she should be feeling confident about her tennis, a win against Schiavone seems very unlikely.
Schiavone is one of the most experienced players in the draw, and as a former French Open champion has proven that she’s not someone that struggles in the biggest competitions. We can expect a steady start from the Italian here, and she should be able to work her way into round two.
