TNT Sports
French quiet over Mauresmo
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Published 19/05/2004 at 13:31 GMT+1
Does Amelie Mauresmo really have a claim to being the in-form player in the build-up to next week's French Open? Despite winning back-to-back titles in Berlin and Rome, the French press are keeping quiet, while James Buddell believes the world number thre
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Her supporters will have been quick to realise that when Steffi Graf in 1987 and Monica Seles in 1990, won the Berlin-Rome double, the pair went on to lift Coupe Suzanne-Lenglen at Roland Garros.
Three years ago the 24-year-old swept into Paris in the form of her life, having won clay-court titles at Amelia Island and Berlin.
While her recovery from a back injury at the Australian Open and her return to form has been impressive, Mauresmo will be wary of the big fish.
She enjoys a 1-6 match record against Serena Williams, elder sister Venus 1-5 and Lindsay Davenport 3-7, but beat world number one Justine Henin-Hardenne in the Amelia Island semi-finals in April to lead their series 3-2.
All have has injuries in recent months, but will be raring to go in the absence of Kim Clijsters and are expected to reach the latter stages.
Two weeks ago Mauresmo beat Jennifer Capriati 6-2 6-0 in the Berlin semi-finals, before being gifted the title through an ankle injury to Venus Williams, without a ball being hit.
Seven days later in Rome, however, Mauresmo struggled past Capriati 3-6 6-3 7-6 (8-6), saving a match point.
Wins over Svetlana Kuznetsova, Silvia Farina Elia and Conchita Martinez have also helped to inspire her, ahead of a 10th French Open campaign.
But the weight of expectation on the Frenchwoman's shoulders will never be so great, and by her own admission she doesn't play well under pressure.
Last year France's sports daily L'Equipe ran a front-page story that implied the title was hers for the taking.
But this year, they are biting their lips.
Mauresmo says: "The pressure can really get to you and the Paris fans are not always very supportive. For some reason it has always been easier to play abroad."
On paper, she has nothing to fear from the opposition.
"Every tournament I enter these days I know I can win because I've beaten all the players before. That gives me a lot of confidence," said Mauresmo.
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