Schiavone has grand plans for celebration at her home

Schiavone could certainly afford an upgrade after being handed a cheque for 927,000 for two weeks' work on Saturday, a quarter of the amount it had taken her 12 years to accumulate previously.

And the 29-year-old earned every penny on Philippe Chatrier Court against Samantha Stosur in one of the best Roland Garros finals in recent memory.

Despite her historic achievement, Schiavone is not expecting a ticker-tape parade when she arrives back in Milan but plans her own celebration with family and friends, many of whom drove 10 hours across Europe to watch her yesterday.

"I want to go home to mummy and daddy," she said.

"This is my goal for the moment, because usually we have a good dinner or good lunch, 10 people.

"Now I think I have to buy a new house – bigger – for 50 people.

"I can't feel what's happening in Italy.

"But for me it is an honour to be champion and to be a person that maybe someone can use as an example."

Indeed, Schiavone is the latest example in sport of someone being rewarded for never giving up on their dream.

It took her 39 attempts to win a major – 39 attempts even to make a semi-final – and in doing so she became the second oldest first-time female grand slam champion.

But the 17th seed – who will rise to sixth in the world when the new rankings are announced today – almost never made it past the first round in Paris, dropping her opening set in the championship to Regina Kulikova.

She said: "That match, I remember was really tough, but I played really good in the most important moment.

"I said to my coach after three, four matches, 'I haven't played so well'.

"But when the really important moments come – like 4-4 or 5-4 – I played amazing."

Schiavone did not drop another set all tournament and when she came close to doing so on Saturday, she produced the tennis of her life to wrap up a 6-4 7-6 (7/2) success.

Stosur, who was also playing her maiden grand slam final, had only won two tournaments herself, and the 26-year-old believes she and Schiavone have proven a point at this year's tournament.

"If you've got that desire, anyone can do it," said the Australian.