You say goodbye, I say hello: Schiavone

PARIS: Former champion Francesca Schiavone received a standing ovation from the French Open crowd on Tuesday after it was announced she was retiring.

But that was news to her.

"Roland Garros announced my retirement, but I didn't," said the 35-year-old Italian who was champion in 2010 and runner-up 12 months later.

"So you can stand up and go back to work in the office because I didn't say that. I will announce when I want to stop."

Schiavone, playing her 16th Roland Garros, lost 6-2, 6-4 to French 26th seed Kristina Mladenovic before being accorded a premature standing ovation by the crowd on Court Suzanne Lenglen.