The defending champion makes a surreal cameo

WIMBLEDON, England -- So I arrived on the grounds Friday morning and, in the wake of last night's car bomb scare in downtown London, the security was tighter than Tim Henman in a fifth set. (Cheap shot. Sorry.)

As I prepared to stand on line for the Gate 16 bag check, an athletic-looking woman on a blue mountain bike pulled up. Amélie Mauresmo got off and waited in line. Good form prevented me from asking why she wasn't wearing a helmet.

"You can't come in here with that bike, missus," admonished a security guard, a Joe Strummer look-alike, sound-alike. Mauresmo calmly explained to the gendarme that she had always ridden her bike through the Wimbledon grounds without a problem.

"I'm just cutting through," she said.

"Well, you have to go around!" the guard snapped.

Mauresmo rolled her eyes and then did something remarkable. She turned and walked away. No fit of pique. No "do-you-know-who-I-am?" business. No gentle suggestion that perhaps the rules could be relaxed for the defending Wimbledon Ladies champion. No "get me your supervisor" business. (We recalled the story of Samantha Stevenson -- remember her? -- stopped by Russian security and demanding to speak with Vladimir Putin.)

No, Mauresmo just pedaled off, perhaps figuring her psychic energies would be more usefully devoted to her next match. Merde happens, she implied.

This was just another reminder that, when players are on the court or in press conferences they may offer glimpses into their personalities. Or they may not. Today's media-trained, media-savvy athletes reveal as much of themselves as they please in these controlled settings. Their agents and handlers would prefer they only spoke when they had a product to pitch or a charity event to plug.

Yet in unremarkable, unscripted, everyday moments, you can learn plenty about an athlete's disposition. Incidentally, after Mauresmo was out of sight, the guard complained that "some lady tried to ride a bike through here." His superior popped up, "That would be OK. Just check the seat next time and let her in."

Check it out

Just Crusing through

Amelie won her third round match today at Wimbeldon after a 2 hour rain delay she wrapped up her match in just 57 mins with a 6-1 ,6-2 win over mara santagelo she had 11 Aces and only 9 UE and 5 DF she is through to the second week at wimbeldon and has some time to rest before her next match .

practice session

Switzerland's Roger Federer and France's Amelie Mauresmo during a practice session at The All England Lawn Tennis during the Wimbledon Championships in London, UK on June 28, 2007


France's Amelie Mauresmo and Spain's Rafael Nadal during a practice session at The All England Lawn Tennis during the Wimbledon Championships in London, UK on June 28, 2007.






France's Amelie Mauresmo and her coach during a practice session at The All England Lawn Tennis during the Wimbledon Championships in London, UK on June 28, 2007.

Moves On

Amelie moved on to the 3rd round at wimbeldon with a win today vs Yvonne Meusburger taking the match in two sets 6-1, 6-3 next up is Mara Santangelo ALLEZ AMELIE , GO MOMO

Match Pics(update)

Amelie Won

Amelie Won her first round match at wimbeldon today with a very easy first set at 6-1 the second set she would win 6-3 to win the match in one hour three minutes. keep it up champ next up either razzano or meusburger.

1st match

Amelie Will Play her 1st match tomorrow at Wimbeldon vs Jamea Jackson of the US so wish much luck for her to move on to the second round and No rain till she has played
Cmon Champ

Only Laughing - Andy Sisco

Cute