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)

Share This

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)

Share This

After careful consideration, France’s former world number one Amelie Mauresmo, the Australian Open and Wimbledon champion in 2006, announced her retirement December 3rd, 2009.

"It was becoming tough mentally. What happened is I simply did not want to go training any more. My tennis life lasted 25 years, there were extraordinary things and tough moments," said tearful 30-year-old Mauresmo.

"I had three main goals in my career, becoming world number one, claiming a Grand Slam title and a Fed Cup. I achieved all of them," added the winner of 25 WTA Tour singles crowns.

Mauresmo’s career took a downward spiral after her Antwerp Diamond Games victory in 2007, her long recovery process after an appendectomy and a series of injuries, and talks about her retirement have been in the air for a while.

The biggest thing left missing in Mauresmo’s career is a title at her home Grand Slam, the French Open. She has never gone further than the quarterfinals there.

Mauresmo’s last title came at the Paris Open in February 2009 and what happened to be her last match on the Tour was the second-round loss at the US Open to Aleksandra Wozniak.

Mauresmo is finishing her career ranked 21st in the world. (source: Reuters, photo: Stephane Martinache)

Share This

Eighth seed Amelie Mauresmo upset top seed Svetlana Kuznetsova in the quarterfinals of the Pilot Pet Tennis presented by Schick 7-6(9) 2-6 6-3.

The former world No.1 Mauresmo saved five set points in the opening set, and won the tiebeak 11-9. The second set she lost easily, while in the third she reclaimed the momentum to advance to the semifinals.

Mauresmo’s next opponent will be Elena Vesnina, who defeated Gisela Dulko in the first round, seed No.9 Samantha Stosur in the second, and Anna Chakvetadze in the quarterfinals. (photo: Stephane Martinache)

Share This

Amelie Mauresmo has been upset in the first round of Roland Garros for the first time since 2001, and once again the former world No.1 wasn’t successful at her home Grand Slam where she best reached the quarterfinals.

So who was the lucky winner? German world No.51 Anna-Lena Groenefeld defeated the 16th seed 6-4 6-3, showing the skills that got her to No.14 in the rankings in 2006, the year she reached the quarterfinals of the French Open.

Both Mauresmo and Groenefeld hit 21 unforced errors, but Groenefeld scored 32 winners compared to Mauresmo’s 13.

France wasn’t lucky on Sunday, as only one of their six players who competed on Day 1 survived. Besides Mauresmo, Mathilde Johansson, Severine Bremond Beltrame, Olivia Sanchez, and Emilie Loit left the French Open right away in the first round, while the only Frenchwoman who won today was Julie Coin. (photo via Sony Ericsson WTA Tour)

Share This