The 2013 Qatar Total Open is the first tournament of Marion Bartoli's career without her father Walter by her side. The 28-year-old Frenchwoman won her opener against Francesca Schiavone 7-6(5) 6-3, even earning the Shot of the Day honor by the WTA, but today the ninth seed lost to Svetlana Kuznetsova 6-4 6-4, who's been rediscovering good results this year and came to Doha with two straight quarterfinals (Sydney and Melbourne).

Here's what Bartoli said about making the difficult decision to detach from her father's constant guidance:

I felt maybe at this stage of my career, when I have so much experience, I could maybe try a little bit more my way or differently. But I still love my dad. I still call him right after the match. …It’s a tough decision. I won’t say hard. I think tough. But, you know, at some point throughout my career I have been going through some tough decisions. That’s what helped me to be where I am right now… Read more »

World No.1 Victoria Azarenka started working with Amelie Mauresmo, former No.1 and two-time Grand Slam champion, and now we have photo proof that the two have already realized their cooperation in practice, preparing for the upcoming Roland Garros on the clay courts of Monaco. The photo was posted today on the Facebook page of Roland Garros.

Let me remind you, the greatest gap in Mauresmo's career is the fact that she hadn't managed to win her home Grand Slam of Roland Garros, even though her game is well-suited for clay. She's never been past the quarterfinals of the tournament, while at all the other Grand Slam she went further. She did win WTA titles on clay, six of her career 25, but at Roland Garros she always seemed to be blocked by nervousness. After her loss to Nicole Vaidisova at the 2006 French Open, Mauresmo said: "I think people should start looking for me at other tournaments."

Azarenka's best performance at Roland Garros were the 2009 and 2011 quarterfinals.

World No.1 and reigning Australian Open champion Victoria Azarenka wanted Amelie Mauresmo in her team, and her coach Sam Sumyk made it happen, hiring the Frenchwoman as a consultant.

Samyk revealed:

We would be making a mistake if we were to deprive ourselves of her kind of experience and ability. Amelie is Vika’s choice and from the moment she expressed that wish, I have tried to make it happen.

Here’s how the former No.1 Mauresmo commented on her new cooperation:

Some news from Monaco where I started a work period of 2 weeks a couple days ago with Vika Azarenka! I'm sure it's gonna be a great adventure and that I can help her by sharing my experience… All the team is amazing and very open with me so thanks to them!

Australian Open and Wimbledon champion Mauresmo ended her illustrious 17-year career in December 2009. (photo: © Neal Trousdale)

Omair, our stats expert, is using numbers to clarify our never-ending debates. This time he will examine the emergence of players who reached the top of the WTA rankings without winning a Grand Slam - Kim Clijsters, Amelie Mauresmo, Jelena Jankovic, Dinara Safina and Caroline Wozniacki – and closer investigate their performance in the years they became number ones. Part 2, to be publish next week, will look into the slamless No.1 years of players that had crowned their careers with major titles. You'll see, it's a revealing perspective!

A lot of debate has been going on over the last few years regarding the coveted world No.1 spot in the WTA rankings. Issues have been raised that the WTA ranking system is flawed, that the player must win a Grand Slam before she gets to the top. Is the WTA ranking system really flawed? And is it mandatory for a player to be a Grand Slam winner before she attains No.1 in the rankings? If yes, then why? And if no, then why has the hype been created?

These are the questions that will be debated on forever. As for me, being the best player in the world does not mean that you have to win all the tournaments or you have to win some specific events. For me, the best player in the world is the one who has been the most consistent throughout the year. You should not be ranked the best player in the world if you win all the four majors and do poorly the rest of the year. A player doing well in all the tournaments has all the right to be the best player in the world. How do you define the best player? What is your opinion on who should be the world No.1 player?

THE BEGINNINGS OF "SLAMLESS NUMBER ONES": WHO WAS THE FIRST AND WHEN WAS THE TERM COINED?

The term "slamless No.1" first appeared in August 2003 when Kim Clijsters became the first Belgian ever (man or woman) to be ranked world No.1. During that stellar season, Clijsters compiled a 90–12 singles record. Her singles win total was the highest single-season total by any woman since Martina Navratilova in 1982. Clijsters was also the first woman to play more than 100 singles matches in a year since Chris Evert in 1974.

Amelie Mauresmo followed in the footsteps of Kim Clijsters in 2004, when Mauresmo became the first French player to attain the top spot in the WTA rankings. Jelena Jankovic then repeated the same feat in 2008 and clinched the year-end top spot as well. Dinara Safina followed in 2009 and Caroline Wozniacki in 2010.

While Clijsters did go on to win her first Grand Slam at the 2005 US Open, and Mauresmo did it at the Australian Open 2006, Safina, Jankovic and Wozniacki are still in the hunt of their first ever major trophy. Will they ever be able to win it, only time will tell us.

Let's have a look at the seasons of the these five players, during which they first attained the top spot. Let the numbers do the talking, and let yourself be the judge as to who do you think did the best during her season that saw her attain the world No. 1 ranking for the first time. Do comment on how do you people see the seasons of these five players.

PERFORMANCE OF SLAMLESS WORLD NUMBER ONES IN THE YEAR THEY REACHED THE TOP RANKING

GRAND SLAM RESULTS OF SLAMLESS WORLD NUMBER ONES IN THE YEAR THEY REACHED THE TOP RANKING

Read more »

The second part of our series "WTA players and their mothers" is a special featuring retired tennis players (you can check out the first part here).

Martina Navratilova and her mother Jana, who passed away at the age of 75.

In the photos above and below you can see Amelie Mauresmo's mother Françoise. The photos are from the Paris ceremony paying tribute to the career of the France's former world No.1 and two-time Grand Slam champion. Read more »

I am sure you can immediately recognize the face of this cute kid – it's our Amelie Mauresmo before she became one of the most successful players in women’s tennis history. The kind look in the eyes of little Amelie is simply adorable, and what is more, she can still be proud of her gentleness. Notice how peaceful and at the same time excited little Amelie is while looking at her birthday cake.

The 30-year-old Mauresmo ended her seventeen-year career on December 3, 2009, but only after she had won 25 singles titles on the WTA Tour, including two Grand Slams (Australian Open and Wimbledon in 2006), and three WTA doubles titles. In addition, she became the first French player to reach No.1 ranking on the WTA Tour (in September 2004).

If you’re new to the series of childhood photos of women’s tennis players, have a look at our rich archive which includes Dinara Safina, Ana Ivanovic, Kim Clijsters, Monica Seles, Dominika Cibulkova, Jelena Jankovic, Venus Williams, and many more.

The organizers of the Open GDF SUEZ paid tribute to Amelie Mauresmo, former world No.1 and two-time Grand Slam champion who retired in December 2009. The very touching ceremony took place on Center Court of the Pierre de Coubertin Stadium.

Amelie was joined by fellow Frenchwomen Julie Coin, Alize Cornet, Nathalie Dechy and Tatiana Golovin (I hope people still remember her), as well as Patty Schnyder, Francesca Schiavone, Tathiana Garbin, Alisa Kleybanova, Flavia Pennetta and Elena Dementieva.  The widescreen was showing the highlights of Amelie’s career:  her greatest victories and souvenirs from her friendships with coaches Loïc Courteau and Hugo Lecoq.

The 30-year-old, whose last career title came at the Open GDF SUEZ, expressed her love of the tournament:

I really have a special relationship with this tournament and this court. It is very moving to have to say goodbye here. I'm going to miss you all. I have one thing to say, 'Thank you!' It may be simple, and it may be brief, but all the greatest moments in my career have happened here.

Here's a short video from the ceremony:

Reminder: Check out our yesterday's post about Amelie's plans in her new life. (sources: Down the Line, Open GDF SUEZ; photos by Stephane Martinache)

Australian Open and Wimbledon champion Amelie Mauresmo, who retired in December 2009, is revealing her plans for the future and is telling us how she will be "taking the time to rest, to live".

The Frenchwoman is currently preparing for the New York marathon, with the help of her former fitness trainer. The role of a TV host is also something that appeals to Amelie. As for the things related to tennis, she would like to be a tournament director, but coaching is definitely not an option, primarily because of excessive traveling.

I can see a pattern: professional tennis players miss simple life, are sick of traveling, and would like to engage in and learn about other things besides tennis. (source: Tennis.com via Women Who Serve, photo by Monique Flippella)