Former French Open champ's heartwarming news after cancer battle

Sports Reporter

Fri, 16 Apr 2021, 1:20 am·2-min read

Francesca Schiavone (pictured right) hugging the French Open trophy and (pictured left) following her battle with cancer. — Francesca Schiavone (pictured right winning French Open) will return to tennis as a coach after her cancer battle (pictured left). (Images: Twitter/Getty Images)

Italian tennis star Francesca Schiavone is set to make a return to the game she loves after her cancer announcement back in 2019.

The 2010 French Open champion announced she had been diagnosed with cancer in 2019 having just retired from the sport and finished up a coaching role with Caroline Wozniacki.

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Schiavone, a former World No.4, announced she had undergone chemotherapy and successfully overcome Hodgkin’s lymphoma.

But having spent 18 years as a pro, winning eight WTA titles and competing in 70 Grand Slams, Schiavone appears to be returning to the game.

The Italian is set to coach Croatia’s Petra Martic for the clay-court season, according to Italian publication Corriere Della Sera, which was similar to her role for Wozniacki.

Schiavone and Martic's paths have crossed in the past.

The 40-year-old Italian played the current World No.21 back at the Rio Open in 2016, which she won.

Martic reveals cancer battle

Back in 2019, the former French Open champ revealed her horrible news.

"Hi everyone, upon 7-8 (months) of silence from social media and from the world, I wish to share with you what happened to me," Schiavone said in an accompanying written message on Twitter.

"A cancer had been diagnosed to me. I did chemotherapy, I fought a tough battle and now I am still breathing.

Francesca Schiavone attends at Festival dello Sport at Teatro Strehler in Milan, Italy. — Francesca Schiavone attends at Festival dello Sport at Teatro Strehler in Milan, Italy, on October 09 2020 (Photo by Mairo Cinquetti/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

"I have won this fight. And now I am back in action."

An extremely popular player during her time on the professional women's circuit, Schiavone's news was met with an outpouring of support from fans.

Schiavone, a former world No.4 also reached the quarter-finals of the US Open twice as well as the last eight at Wimbledon during 2009 and the 2011 Australian Open.

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