

By Chris Oddo | Wednesday, May 28, 2015

Francesca Schiavone and Svetlana Kuznetsova played the third-longest women's singles match in Roland Garros history and Twitter went bonkers.



Photo Source: Tennis Now Twitter

It’s been a long time since 2010 French Open champion Francesca Schiavone was relevant—she is today.



Once again the Italian paired with her old-school rival Svetlana Kuznetsova to produces an epic worthy of a final. Schiavone’s 6-7(11), 7-5, 10-8 victory featured a match point saved and came in as the third-longest women’s singles match in Roland Garros history at three hours and 49 minutes.



Kuznetsova took the first set, 13-11 in the tiebreaker, and had four chances in the third set to serve the match out. But she failed on each occasion, and finally fell when she dumped a volley into the net on Schiavone’s first match point.



Schiavone, who ended a string of seven consecutive Grand Slam losses in the first round, has not been this far in a major since she reached the round of 16 in Paris in 2013.



The Italian, a two-time French Open finalist, will next face Romania’s Andreea Mitu in the round of 32. Mitu squeezed by Karolina Pliskova in three sets.



Much like their epic battle at the Australian Open in 2011, Schiavone and Kuznetsova’s battle inspired Twitter to let its true colors shine. Here’s a sampling of the best and brightest:



I have asked why is Francesca Schiavone still out there trying - and I am answered - so she can experience emotions like this. — Chris P (@scoobstennis) May 28, 2015

Enjoying womans tennis…yes,you read it right…Schiavone vs Kuznetsova — Janko Tipsarevic (@TipsarevicJanko) May 28, 2015

19 matches have started and ended...meanwhile Kuznetsova-Schiavone still playing. They're tied up at 8-8 in the 3rd. #RG15 — Roland Garros (@rolandgarros) May 28, 2015

The Schiavone-Kuznetsova match ticks over 3hrs 37mins. It becomes the 3rd longest women's singles match in RG history pic.twitter.com/SJdFufmTEa — Roland Garros (@rolandgarros) May 28, 2015

the quality of this match between Kuznetsova and Schiavone is absolutely insane. Best match of the tournament so far #RG15 — Giulio Gasparin (@GiulioGasparin) May 28, 2015

Awesome to see @SvetlanaK27 play Schiavone at RG! Great battle!! — Kim Clijsters (@Clijsterskim) May 28, 2015

Let's just say Fran-Sveta is the women's final and call it good. YES? Yes. 11-all in Schiavone-Kuznetsova 1st set breaker #RG15 — Nick McCarvel (@NickMcCarvel) May 28, 2015

This classic French Open moment is brought to you by Francesca Schiavone. pic.twitter.com/a4j6CBuL0w — Chris Oddo (@TheFanChild) May 28, 2015

All good things must come to an end. 3hrs 50mins later and @Schiavone_Fra d. Kuznetsova 6-7(11) 7-5 10-8. #RG15 pic.twitter.com/lTWgHGMv7w — Roland Garros (@rolandgarros) May 28, 2015