DUBAI — Twenty nine-year-old Amelie Mauresmo is still France’s leading sports personality even if she is not the top 10 women’s tennis player anymore.
Her popularity and fame came not just from her phenomenal double Grand Slam title-run two years back.
Her pleasant manners and friendly approach at any given situation, makes her an individual of importance on the Tour.
The $14 million plus winner in court earnings, she is today slightly withdrawn in her outlook towards the game and life in general, due to the drastic loss of form.
Her first round ouster in Doha last week shattered her confidence levels to some extend.
“Losing to Tamarine (Tanasugarn of Thailand) was not the important thing. True, the weather was very unkind with winds and dust I have never seen before during the course of a match,” said Amelie.
“I was upset thinking that I could not handle a pressure situation well while my opponent handled it admirably.”
Today, Amelie does not even bother to keep tabs of her world ranking which is fluctuating between 30 and 40. “I haven’t thought about it for some time.”
“What is it?,” she asked a journalist on hand, “Was it 40, 45?” “All I want to do now is go on court and try remaining calm and just get a win no matter what tournament or situation,” Amelie said.
“To get my confidence levels back I have to win matches irrespective of the stages of an event. It is one day at a time now for me. I am not going to just hang up my racquet all of a sudden. In Doha there was a lot of confusion but I have got over that and I think I am slowly getting my old touch.”
Ranked in the top 30 in women’s doubles in the world, Amelie she reckons the version of the game does take off the negative thoughts of her singles form. “I have Svetlana (Kuznetsova) who is not just a great partner but a friend as well. We do discuss our games but more than that it is the companionship that is important at this time of my career,” Amelie added.
Retiring immediately is out of question for the Geneva based St Germains en Laye born French superstar. “I want to be physically OK now and the feeling of tiredness is not there for long periods, so I feel I still have it in me to go on for some more time. The time to quit is when you feel there is no motivation at all to continue or when one stops enjoying the job,” Amelie said.
“ And like I said before, I have to do my thing and the let the rest take care of itself. I have not given it any thought to what I will do when I quit.”
Amelie will be off to the US for the circuit there after a breather back home. Her fans in the UAE are many. On the second day of the women’s tournament, Amelie was playing a late first round game and there were more than 200 fans of hers at Centre Court at midnight to cheer her, most of them families.
“We love her game and she is great to watch without any arguments or fuss from her side during play,” said a French family from Abu Dhabi.
Amelie is one of the few on the circuit who plays her shots single handed and has a traditional backhand, making her one of the few left in the modern era where such a style is mixed with the entertaining serve and volley approach.
Friday, February 29, 2008
Kuznetsova: "Amélie is on the right track"
Prior to facing Amelie Mauresmo in the quarter-finals, Svetlana Kuznetsova had agreed to comment on the period of crisis that now her best friend on the circuit. "Amelie is a great friend, someone for whom I have great respect. She is an inspiration to me and that am sorry to see her going through a period sale for several months. After her defeat last week in Doha, it was really bad. We talked a lot and I told her she had to forget very quickly lost this match against Tanasugarn. Then, I had proposed to play some doubles with me here in Dubai, Indian Wells and perhaps also in Miami. I think it makes it good to be on the court with someone to talk to during the game, with whom joke and relax too.
The transition to empty she is experiencing at the moment is all the more difficult it is to live at the end of their careers. Under these conditions, it probably increasingly. But I know Amélie, she has character, and if she said that the time for retirement has not yet come, she will make every effort to return to her level. She is in excellent physical condition, she may no longer sufficient as positive."
Yesterday, at the end of the match, the Russian added: "If Amélie continues to play as she did in the second set, that I'm not worried for her. When she attacked and took the net, she's not easy to pass. Frankly, after such a match, I told myself that she is on the right track."
The transition to empty she is experiencing at the moment is all the more difficult it is to live at the end of their careers. Under these conditions, it probably increasingly. But I know Amélie, she has character, and if she said that the time for retirement has not yet come, she will make every effort to return to her level. She is in excellent physical condition, she may no longer sufficient as positive."
Yesterday, at the end of the match, the Russian added: "If Amélie continues to play as she did in the second set, that I'm not worried for her. When she attacked and took the net, she's not easy to pass. Frankly, after such a match, I told myself that she is on the right track."
Thursday, February 28, 2008
Bye Dubai
Amelie lost her OF match today vs Svetlana Kuznetsova 6-1, 7-6(4) . The next stop is Indian Wells Good Luck . ALLEZ AMELIE , GO MOMO
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Into the QF
Amelie won her 2nd round match today in 1 min over 2 hours vs A. Morigami winning 4-6, 6-1, 6-4 with this win she advances to the QF for Dubai where she will play Svetlana Kuznetsova . 2 Wins In a Row Keep It up . ALLEZ AMELIE , GO MOMO
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Win in Dubai
Amelie won her fist match in Dubai today vs Anibel Medina Garrigues 7-6(7),6-2 the first set was tight but Amelie pulled through it to win in less than 2 hours up next is A. Morigami ALLEZ AMELIE , GO MOMO
Monday, February 25, 2008
Best Amelie Quote
"As long as I am motivated I would do everything to find my best level, the period is difficult but I will fight!"
Sunday, February 24, 2008
Objective
- Objectif : :
24/02/2008
Amélie est arrivée à Dubaï vendredi et jouera au premier tour contre une qualifiée...
Après la grande déception et la frustration de Doha suite à sa défaite contre Tanasugran au deuxième tour du tournoi, Amélie se concentre désormais sur Dubaï. Son principal objectif et de trouver du plaisir sur le court comme elle a pu en avoir à l'Open Gaz de France il y a deux semaines. Faire abstraction des quelques désillusions de ce début d'année pour laisser libre cours à son esprit de conquête. " Tant que je serai motivée je ferai tout pour retrouver mon meilleur niveau, la période est certes difficile mais je vais me battre ! "
----------------------------------------------------------------------
-- Objective::
24/02/2008
Amelie arrived in Dubai Friday and will play in the first round against a qualifier ...
After the great disappointment and frustration in Doha following her defeat against Tanasugran in the second round of the tournament, Amelie focuses now on Dubai. Her main objective is to find fun on the court as she was able to get at the Open Gaz de France two weeks ago. To ignore the few disappointments of the beginning of this year to give free rein to her spirit of conquest. "As long as I am motivated I would do everything to find my best level, the period is difficult but I will fight!"
24/02/2008
Amélie est arrivée à Dubaï vendredi et jouera au premier tour contre une qualifiée...
Après la grande déception et la frustration de Doha suite à sa défaite contre Tanasugran au deuxième tour du tournoi, Amélie se concentre désormais sur Dubaï. Son principal objectif et de trouver du plaisir sur le court comme elle a pu en avoir à l'Open Gaz de France il y a deux semaines. Faire abstraction des quelques désillusions de ce début d'année pour laisser libre cours à son esprit de conquête. " Tant que je serai motivée je ferai tout pour retrouver mon meilleur niveau, la période est certes difficile mais je vais me battre ! "
----------------------------------------------------------------------
-- Objective::
24/02/2008
Amelie arrived in Dubai Friday and will play in the first round against a qualifier ...
After the great disappointment and frustration in Doha following her defeat against Tanasugran in the second round of the tournament, Amelie focuses now on Dubai. Her main objective is to find fun on the court as she was able to get at the Open Gaz de France two weeks ago. To ignore the few disappointments of the beginning of this year to give free rein to her spirit of conquest. "As long as I am motivated I would do everything to find my best level, the period is difficult but I will fight!"
Saturday, February 23, 2008
Dubai Draw
Update : Amelie will Play Doubles With Svetlana Kuznetsova in Dubai
(1)Justine Henin (BEL) v BYE
Nadia Petrova (RUS) v Q
Sybille Bammer (AUT) v Q
(7)Marion Bartoli (FRA) v Francesca Schiavone (ITA)
(3)Ana Ivanovic (SRB) v BYE
Nicole Vaidisova (CZE) v Q
Alona Bondarenko (UKR) v Maria Kirilenko (RUS)
(8)Elena Dementieva (RUS) v Patty Schnyder (SUI)
--------------------------------------------------
(6)Anna Chakvetadze (RUS) v Q
Dinara Safina (RUS) v (wc)Selima Sfar (TUN)
(wc)Sania Mirza (IND) v Q
(4)Jelena Jankovic (SRB) v BYE
(5)Maria Sharapova (RUS) v Agnes Szavay (HUN)
Amelie Mauresmo (FRA) v Q
Na Li (CHN) v Lucie Safarova (CZE)
(2)Svetlana Kuznetsova (RUS) v BYE
(1)Justine Henin (BEL) v BYE
Nadia Petrova (RUS) v Q
Sybille Bammer (AUT) v Q
(7)Marion Bartoli (FRA) v Francesca Schiavone (ITA)
(3)Ana Ivanovic (SRB) v BYE
Nicole Vaidisova (CZE) v Q
Alona Bondarenko (UKR) v Maria Kirilenko (RUS)
(8)Elena Dementieva (RUS) v Patty Schnyder (SUI)
--------------------------------------------------
(6)Anna Chakvetadze (RUS) v Q
Dinara Safina (RUS) v (wc)Selima Sfar (TUN)
(wc)Sania Mirza (IND) v Q
(4)Jelena Jankovic (SRB) v BYE
(5)Maria Sharapova (RUS) v Agnes Szavay (HUN)
Amelie Mauresmo (FRA) v Q
Na Li (CHN) v Lucie Safarova (CZE)
(2)Svetlana Kuznetsova (RUS) v BYE
Mauresmo considers retirement
—Former Wimbledon champion Amelie Mauresmo admitted Friday that she was considering retiring from tennis after another disappointing defeat.
A former world No. 1, Mauresmo has won just eight matches since losing her title at SW19 last July.
Her poor form continued in Doha this week, when she was ousted in the second round of the Qatar Open to Thai veteran Tamarine Tanasugarn.
Having slipped to 29th in the rankings, the 28-year-old conceded she was questioning whether to continue playing.
“I sometimes ask myself what I am doing there, in front of half empty stands,” Mauresmo told French sports daily L’Equipe. “It’s typically the type of situation where you wish you were somewhere else.
“I came to this tournament wanting to do well, but there’s always a grain of sand that gets in the works and clogs things up. It’s difficult to take.”
Mauresmo seemed conflicted about whether she even wants to finish off the current season.
“I want to carry on playing, and at the same time I wonder if I don’t talk myself into it will I still have that desire?” she said. “As long as I’m motivated, I’ll continue.
“But there’s always that little something in the back of your mind wondering if it wouldn’t be better to stop.”
A former world No. 1, Mauresmo has won just eight matches since losing her title at SW19 last July.
Her poor form continued in Doha this week, when she was ousted in the second round of the Qatar Open to Thai veteran Tamarine Tanasugarn.
Having slipped to 29th in the rankings, the 28-year-old conceded she was questioning whether to continue playing.
“I sometimes ask myself what I am doing there, in front of half empty stands,” Mauresmo told French sports daily L’Equipe. “It’s typically the type of situation where you wish you were somewhere else.
“I came to this tournament wanting to do well, but there’s always a grain of sand that gets in the works and clogs things up. It’s difficult to take.”
Mauresmo seemed conflicted about whether she even wants to finish off the current season.
“I want to carry on playing, and at the same time I wonder if I don’t talk myself into it will I still have that desire?” she said. “As long as I’m motivated, I’ll continue.
“But there’s always that little something in the back of your mind wondering if it wouldn’t be better to stop.”
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