Razzano's "Most Beautiful" Victory

What a day this has been for Virginie Razzano, the French player producing a sensational display to stun Roland Garros' biggest favorite, American Serena Williams, in the first round to obtain the "most beautiful" victory of her career. 

A day ago, Alberta Brianti came very close to causing the upset of the tournament in beating the number 1 ranked Azarenka, so when Virginie let a 5-0 third set advantage diminish to 5-3, many were expecting the same outcome. However, the French woman fought hard for most of the encounter, recovering from 1-5 in the second set's tiebreak, so she was determined not to let a once in a lifetime opportunity go by. Although hampered by cramps, she hang on with Williams and, at the end of a marathon game when Serena's shot was called out, she got her reward. "I didn't think too much. I know I have unlimited resources. I dug very deep and I knew nothing was lost, even when I had cramps (in the last game), even when I was not feeling well. It was happiness, pure happiness. It's the most beautiful victory of my whole career, especially on Court Philippe Chatrier in front of the whole crowd", said a visibly emotional Virginie. "In my mind I just never lost," she continued. "Yes, it was 5-1 in the tie-break, but in my mind I knew I could win this set. I knew I could come back, and I knew I had to do that. You don't need to think about other things, you just try to come back and try your best every time, on every point. After, if she played too well, I could say I did my maximum, and she wins. But I believed I could win. Even at 5-1 in the tie-break, I knew I hadn't lost yet."

This success is even more special as it comes after a rather dark period in her life. Struggling with injuries and poor form, she saw her ranking go down from her highest position at number 16 to outside the top 100. Moreover, just over a year ago she lost her fiancé and coach, Stéphane Vidal, who succumbed to a brain tumor. "Maybe it's a new Virginie," she concluded. "I've made a lot of good work on myself from last year to this year."

Razzano goes on to face Arantxa Rus from The Netherlands next. At the same stage last year, Rus produced a magnificent comeback, defeating tournament favorite Kim Clijsters in an epic second round encounter.

Virginie Razzano produced the match of her life to beat Serena Williams, the American's first first round defeat at a major.

photos: GETTY IMAGES