From AFP: Mauresmo glad to be home after poor start to tennis season
Former world number one Amelie Mauresmo has admitted that she is glad to be back in Paris after a stuttering start to her season in Australia...
Mauresmo has always crumbled under the pressure cooker atmosphere at Roland Garros where the expectation of an entire nation rests on her shoulders.
That is far from the case in the relative intimacy of the Pierre de Coubertin indoor stadium where the Paris Indoor Open is held.
Mauresmo says part of that is due to the knowledge of the crowd...
"These people really know about women's tennis whereas at Roland Garros there's many people who just go because it's Roland Garros. Here they are true amateur tennis players."
Mauresmo had high praise for Belgium's Kim Clijsters, who will retire at the end of the year.
She said: "It's a shame she's stopping. She brings a lot to tennis, especially off the court with her kindness and personality.
"I think it's a shame at her age but I hope to play many more games against her before she quits."
Mauresmo may have limited opportunities left to do battle with Clijsters but that may not be the case of new Australian Open champion Serena Williams, who Mauresmo was highly impressed with in Melbourne.
"I saw her second round match and she was getting frustrated and didn't seem at ease with her tennis but what's incredible is how she turned it around.
"It's very interesting how she turned her form around over two weeks."
well amelie is def one of my fav players on the womens tour and she's always really nice and sweet. i hope she does well this year (esp at wimbledon) and gets #1 back =)
Posted by: safinisawesome | February 07, 2007 at 01:47 PM
I have nothing at all against Amelie, and I find her gracious and pleasant off the courts. While she may do well in some tournaments, I just don't see the will to win and the determination that I see in Henin, Williams, Sharapova, etc. Maybe she is too nice? That competitive fire is just lacking.
When I watched Amelie play, and later saw Serena, I couldn't help but notice a lack of fighting spirit when Amelie is down. In Serena's case, it's more of a "how dare you back me into a corner - I'll show you!"
Generally it is the difference I see in many winners and losers on the courts, even at omy lowly 4.0ish lowly levels. Last week the opposing team took to hitting me with the ball if at all possible. I responded in turn. My partner backed right off both times. We lost 6-4, 6-4. A stronger personality would have helped me push them back. Like Serena, they smelled blood, and it was game over.
Amelie is a great player with a weak mind.
Posted by: Lisa | February 07, 2007 at 03:58 PM
yea i do agree simply because you're right and she doesn't always have the strongest mentality. but, shes a fairly solid player and when she does keep it together great things happen for her ('06 australian&wimbledon).
and as for serena, she is also another one of my favorites and everything about her game is admirable, especially her mental strength when things get tough which is something i havent always seen from amelie.
in the end, i think amelie's got the stlye and flair to her game that serena doesn't, but serena's got the strength and persistence that makes her great and they're both champions and two of the best players in the women's game.
Posted by: safinisawesome | February 07, 2007 at 07:21 PM