Tuesday, November 25, 2008

Amelie Mauresmo says she is on the comeback trail

FORMER world No.1 Amelie Mauresmo has committed herself to at least another year on the WTA circuit in a bid to end her career on a positive note.

The 29-year-old Frenchwoman struggled for form throughout this year and saw her world ranking plummet outside the top 20 as she failed to win a single tournament.

She even considered retirement during the summer after splitting from long-time coach Loic Courteau, but finally has decided to attempt to regain full fitness and battle her way back to the top.

“I was not that far from packing it all in because I was so far away from getting back to the level that I wanted to play at,'' Mauresmo told L'Equipe sports daily.

“But I am not the kind to take hasty decisions and so I though it over and decided to continue playing.

“I want to prove to myself that I am strong enough to get back to my best form. I am not too much interested in where I am in the rankings but I want to be able to win tournaments again.

“My last title was in Antwerp in 2007 and quite frankly I miss all that. I really want to once again be playing in big tournaments feeling that I can win them by beating the best players.''

Mauresmo, who reached the world No.1 spot in 2007 after winning the Australian Open and Wimbledon, said that she was also encouraged by the instability at the top of women's tennis since the retirement earlier this year of Justine Henin.

“For the moment I am not looking past next year,'' she said.

“It all depends on how it goes. If it is a repeat of what happened in 2008, that will be it for me. But if I can succeed to do what I have set out to do we will see.''

Thursday, November 20, 2008

-Baggage for life .. :

- Un bagage pour la vie.. :
19/11/2008

Amélie a participé à la troisième édition de la vente caritative "Un bagage pour la vie...

La vente aux enchères exceptionnelle de sacs et de bagages Goyard, organisée chez Christie's au profit de la recherche sur le cancer à l'Institut Curie a eu lieu lundi 17 novembre. C'est la 3ème édition de cette oeuvre caritative organisée conjointement par l'Institut Curie et la Maison Goyard baptisée "Un bagage pour la vie, un bagage pour Curie". 21 femmes du monde du cinéma, de la mode et du sport ont, pour l'occasion, customisé des sacs signés Goyard.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
-Baggage for life .. :
19/11/2008

Amélie participated in the third edition of the charity sale "Baggage for life"...

The auction exceptional bags and luggage Goyard, held at Christie's to benefit cancer research at the Institut Curie was held Monday 17 November. This is the 3rd edition of this charitable jointly organized by the Institut Curie and Maison Goyard called "Baggage for life, baggage for Curie." 21 women in the world of cinema, fashion and sport, for the occasion, customized bags signed Goyard.

Tuesday, November 18, 2008

- The resumption for Amélie. :

- La reprise pour Amélie. :
17/11/2008

Amélie débute sa préparation hivernale dès aujourd'hui en compagnie de Hugo Lecoq et Xavier Moreau.

C'est aujourd'hui qu'Amélie reprend la raquette ! Après quelques semaines de repos, la française reprend avec beaucoup d'envie la préparation hivernale en compagnie de son nouvel entraineur Hugo Lecoq. Au programme de la semaine, deux séances de préparation physique et un entrainement tennis chaque jour. En marge de sa préparation, Amélie a profité de son temps libre pour inaugurer avec monsieur de maire de l'Isle Adam A. Poniatowski un complexe multisports à son effigie.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
- The resumption for Amélie. :
17/11/2008

Amelie begins her winter preparations today with Hugo Lecoq and Xavier Moreau.

Today Amélie resumed the racket! After several weeks of rest, the Frenchwoman resumed with great desire preparing this winter with her new coach Hugo Lecoq. The program of the week, two sessions of physical preparation and coaching tennis every day. During her preparation, Amélie took advantage of her free time to inaugurate with the Mayor of l'Isle Adam, A. Poniatowski, a multi-sports complex in her effigy.

Friday, November 14, 2008

Bornel: the city pays tribute to Amélie Mauresmo and father

Amélie Mauresmo learned to play tennis in Bornel at the age of 6 years. Saturday she will inaugurate the new gym.

The municipality of Bornel urges the public to a morning "open door", this Saturday, 15 November 2008, starting at 10 am at the gym "Francis and Amélie Mauresmo" next to the college-Francoise Sagan. The champion Amélie Mauresmo will be present on this occasion to discover this room named in honor of her career and her father Francis, who died on 12 March 2004 at the age of 56, who was town councilor from 1995 to 2001. This visit will allow everyone to assess the quality of the premises made available to college sports associations and Bornel and will be followed by a pot of friendship offered by the city.

Amélie passion began at 4 years

Amélie was only four years old when she followed on television with her parents in the final of Roland Garros in 1983 between Yannick Noah and Mats Wilander. The petition was so packed that her parents bought her a racket. A 6 years they have placed on the school tennis Bornel. "I remember my first teacher of tennis. Her name Inger Delamare. She has the first detect the potential that I learned. Then there was Philippe Leroy that I met before Bornel find TC Méru. It was the educator in all its splendor. And then it was humanly adorable "Amelie remembers.

At Tennis Club Méru, driven by Jean-Pierre Deseilles and Patrick Simon, Amélie progressing rapidly. "She arrived in 1988 and it was only 9 years old, but I remember she had an incredible time of flap and something more than other players his age. In 1990, she earned the title of youngest champion France "remembers for its part Oguez Gerard, 77, former chairman of TC Méru.

At the age of 11 years, the French Federation of Tennis comment and it proposes to integrate the Tennis / Etudes de Blois. Amélie is in ecstasy, and her parents can only be resigned to see her leave. "Already, tennis was a passion. But after three years I really realized that I wanted to become a professional tennis player "continues Amélie.

A 14-year Amélie integrates INSEP de Vincennes. There she met Gail Lovera, the former French No. 1 original Australian transmitting her enthusiasm, and teaches her the reverse lift. In 1994, Amélie 15 years and is at the National Training Center at Roland Garros. She is happy. It includes Patrick Simon, coach beginning.

From 1995 to 1996, Amélie dispute small professional tournaments with 10 000 dollars. In 1995, TFF offers him an invitation in the list of "qualified" Roland-Garros. Amélie is classified as rank around 750th on the WTA, but she beats three players ranked 120th in the world, and earns her place in the big picture. "My first round vs Italian Natalia Baudon, I always remember. I went on court with no complex, and I led 6-3 3-1 but I lost. Despite the defeat I was so happy I realize that I had the potential to worry about players at this level! "Said Amélie.

Twice champion France in TC Méru

In 1996, Amélie continues her momentum, she discovers including Australia, a continent appreciates it immediately. She does not doubt she will live a few years later, great moments. At the end of the year, Amelie was junior world champion.

Meanwhile, the TC Meru, where she is still part of the women's team, two later, she won the title of champion France in 1998 and 1999. "These two years, they have beaten in the final team Racing Club of France. The results of Amélie me also won best to be named leader of France in 1998. Then the new team leaders giant Méru TC did not wish to continue the adventure with Amelie and I regret that. In any case, I would have lived my best tennis moments with her, "said Gerard Oguez who was chairman of the departmental committee of the Oise tennis for 16 years and vice president of the Liga de Picardie.

Today, after 24 WTA titles, the last in Antwerp in 2007, Amélie still occupies the 24th place worldwide and is the 3rd French player. But the adventure is not over ...

Thursday, November 13, 2008

Lecoq: "Proud to coach Amélie"

Hugo Lecoq answered to the dailypaper "le Parisien" on his wednesday edition. The new Amélie Mauresmo coach wants to help Amelie to taste the success again.

"The dream is not to work with Amélie but make her succeed. She told me about her ambitions,how she sees the end of her career[...] we'll choise the tournaments, the idea is to win titles,the aim is to win a slam again explains Hugo(31 years)Lecoq in le Parisien. Loic Courteau used to give her much calm and serenity. Amélie expect from me something a little bit different. At her age we cant revolutionate her tennis. I want to act on technical elements, essential to her success, her serve for instance".

Sunday, November 9, 2008

- Choosing Hugo Lecoq!:

09/11/2008

Amelie has made her choice and will work next season with Hugo Lecoq.

When I decided to change coach, I asked several questions about what I really wanted. The name of Hugo soon come to me because I have known for several years. It is part of the French Fed Cup and Loic often calls him to be my partner. Hugo is a person who knows me well, it's an advantage because we will start our cooperation on the preparation that winter is a very important time to begin the season. We had a lengthy exchange together to discuss different objectives that I wish to set and for that I need to know that Hugo adheres to 100% for this project because it will be the person that I will achieve these objectives. Read more in the interview of the month>

================================================== =======

A new beginning ...
09/11/2008

Amelie returns to the announcement of her choice to work with Hugo Lecoq next season ...

- Amelie, you come to announce your collaboration with Hugo Lecoq for the new season in 2009, can you tell us what motivated this choice?
When I decided to change coach, I asked several questions about what I really wanted. The name of Hugo soon come to me because I have known for several years. It is part of the French Fed Cup and Loic often call him to be my partner. Hugo is a person who knows me well, it's an advantage because we will start our cooperation on the preparation that winter is a very important time to begin the season. We had a lengthy exchange together to discuss different objectives that I wish to set and for that I need to know that Hugo adheres to 100% for this project because it will be the person that I will achieve these objectives.

- Is he going to follow you full time or during the preparation only? How is your new structured collaboration?
Hugo will be with me most of the year but there will also be weeks where I will be on my own.

- Will you followed by a physiotherapist as you could do with Michel Franco?
Yes. All is not stopped this side there but I want to be followed by a physiotherapist throughout the year as the work of recovery is very important even for my young body of 29 years ...

- What is your training program by the end of the year?

I'm on vacation until November 15. I do a few sessions bicycle that recovery is not too difficult. I repeat the racket on November 16 for 6 weeks of training with a planned departure for Australia on December 28 to play two tournaments before Melbourne. Hugo and Xavier are finalizing the structure of this period.

Friday, November 7, 2008

In today's Equipe:

MAURESMO ET DECHY SONT LÀ. – Pour la première fois depuis 2002,
aucune joueuse française ne participe au Masters. Mais Nathalie Dechy et Amélie
Mauresmo sont présentes à Doha. La première est consultante pour Eurosport
et la deuxième est venue passer quelques jours, histoire de saluer les
copines et de prendre un peu de soleil. Elle en a profité pour confirmer sa collaboration
future avec Hugo Lecoq comme entraîneur, comme nous l’annoncions
dans nos éditions du 31 octobre. « Je reprends l’entraînement à la minovembre
», a-t-elle glissé entre deux séances de bronzing à la piscine du Ritz
Carlton de Doha. – A. DEFLASSIEUXD

Very short translation:

Amelie is in Doha to get a little bit of sunshine and see some friends haha. Between 2 bronzing sessions at the pool of the Ritz Carlton hotel she confirmed that she will have Hugo Lecoq as coach in 2009 and that she will start training half november