Everyone is curious about Francesca Schiavone

The top search phrase leading to the Sapphist Gazetteer this week is "francesca schiavone girlfriend." Alas, I have no idea whether the adorable Italian tennis champion has a girlfriend—much less whether she is a lesbian—but I can say that we in the lesbian realm appreciate how cute she is. Look at the smile! So alive. And let's congratulate her on making it to the finals of Roland Garros, the French Open. Good luck on Saturday, Francesca! For two thoroughly charming tribute videos, click here (with nothing less than a Lou Rawls soundtrack) and here.

BTW, the only out active player I know of is Amelie Mauresmo. She retired two years ago, but she is attempting to come back to professional tennis. ESPN reported that she had been granted a wild card spot in mixed doubles at the French Open this year but was not allowed to play because "she is no longer in the sport's anti-doping program." Not sure what that means, but we'd love to see her back on the tour.

In the meantime, you can get your lesbian tennis fix by watching our beloved Martina Navratilova doing French Open commentary on the Tennis Channel. The Tennis Channel recently aired a wonderful documentary about Martina's amazing life story, "Farewell to a Champion." It's worth tracking down on your DVR. Personally, I was moved to tears. And my admiration spiked. Also, ESPN not long ago produced a terrific film "Unmatched" in its "30 for 30" series on the legendary rivalry between Martina and Chris Evert. In this clip, Martina talks specifically about how hard it was being out at that time. Chris Evert was the all-American girl next door, and Martina was portrayed as the bad guy. "Here I am this big, muscular lesbian from a Communist country," she said. "And the headline was, 'The good vs. the bad'. Here I was this villain, and it hurt."
But in the end, Martina, you are the hero.

Sapph Gaz Updates!

• Our boi Francesca Schiavone lost in the first round at Wimbledon yesterday. She fell to Russian Vera Dushevina in a grueling 3-hour match. There were high hopes for Schiavone coming off her French Open win a few weeks ago, and she was seeded 5th at Wimbledon. But the transition to grass was too much for her, and the length of the match seemed to take its toll on Schiavone—who turns 30 this week—even though she is considered among the fittest players in women's tennis. "It was a very tough match," she said. "It was different surface, a different feeling to Paris." The defeat is apparently heartbreaking for Mary Carillo in particular, who evidently has a thing for the small hot Italian. Carillo was quoted in Sports Illustrated after Schiavone's win in Paris: "Forza Francesca! So nice to see such emotion, elation. I've always admired Frankie for her fitness—especially those sturdy, highly Italian-looking legs. She walks like the women do in all the mountain villages: quickly, stoutly, resolute. So alive. Boy, I enjoyed that one."
We enjoy you, Mary.

•Over the weekend Tilda Swinton was in the gayest town in America to pick up her award at the 2010 Provincetown International Film Festival.
She told the local press that she was unaware she had won a prize—she thought she was there just to promote her new film I Am Love. She also said she's looking forward to retiring from acting so that she can tend to the chickens on her estate in Scotland. Here she is sampling some of the wicker furniture in Ptown. No word yet if she was spotted at the tea dance.

Favorite new player: Francesca Schiavone

I confess I was remiss. I watched almost none of the French Open. Excuse me: Roland Garros. We're supposed to call it Roland Garros. In any case, I watched maybe 20 minutes of the entire tournament, which, quelle surprise, has been host to so many lesbians over the years. Nonetheless, it turns out that 20 minutes was enough time to hear a doozy from the mouth of our butch babe in the analyst's booth, Mary Carillo. "She plays like a man," Carillo said of Samantha Stosur as the newcomer Aussie overpowered little Justine Henin. Justine had been my favorite player for a while. But it was never a fully developed crush because she looks too much like my sister (I mean that literally). Therefore, I have a familial and protective feeling toward Justine, who has always seemed so vulnerable under the steely tenacity and perfect backhand. (Someday I might also share the story of how I once ran into Justine at the elevators in the lobby of a resort in Miami...) But the real reason for this post is to announce my new favorite tennis player: Francesca Schiavone. When she beat Stosur in straight sets yesterday, she became the first Italian woman to win a Grand Slam singles title. And unofficially she may be the first boi to win a Grand Slam. Take a look at her post-win press conference. So adorable. And look at her healthy appetite! And the bit of red clay on her magnificent nose from kissing the court upon seizing victory! This is what I'm talking about when I order a "small hot Italian" at Subway.