The Search for a French Tennis Champion

This entry is part of the Road to Roland Garros 2006 Series. Please click here to read the rest of the series.

She has been here before, but never as the top seed, the headliner, the woman who could complete the Grand Slam only for the fourth time in ladies tennis history. Winning a major title is more than most women players dare to dream about, but for France’s Amelie Mauresmo, she needs just won more win to satisfy the naysayers. If she had a choice over whether to win a Grand Slam title at the Australian Open or Roland Garros, odds are that Roland Garros would have won in a landslide. Sure, she is thrilled to have shed the moniker of “the best player to never win a grand slam”, but if she could just lift the trophy above her head on June 10, she would have proved not only to the French, but herself that she truly is one of the best female tennis players that France has produced in the last century.

France has supported Mauresmo time and time again in past years. They overlooked her shocking first round upset in 2001 to Jana Kandarr - a former top fifty player, who is currently stuck in the mid 400’s. They understood the quarterfinal thrashing Mauresmo got at the hands of Serena Williams in 2003. They groaned as they watched their beloved hopeful get dumped out Roland Garros last year by youngster Ana Ivanovic in the third round. But when all was said and done, they were willing to forgive and forget, at least until the next season.

But this year Mauresmo has something she did not have in the past; confidence and a Grand Slam title. She won Australia and in the eyes of the slightly-prejudiced French fans, she should be able to win in Paris as well. The pressure on her has never been greater, but can she deliver the goods when it matters most?

Personally, I do not think we will see Mauresmo hoisting the trophy at the event of the tournament. She won the Australian Open, fair and square over Henin-Hardenne, but she did have three of her seven opponents retire during their matches. You have to wonder what the outcome would have been like if Kim Clijsters and Justine Henin-Hardenne had been playing at 100%.

She only played one event on clay this season, the Qatar Telecom German Open, but she was blitzed by Henin-Hardenne in two sets. She played on clay for France’s Fed Cup tie against Italy, and went 1-1 in a tough loss to Francesca Schiavone. There still a huge question mark over Mauresmo’s head regarding whether she had got the necessary mental toughness to close out difficult matches.

Mauresmo is certainly not France’s only female player, but this year she has the best chances out of the rest of her countrywoman. Mary Pierce, who coincidentally was born in Canada, is adored for being only the second Frenchwoman in the last fifty years to win Roland Garros. But Pierce has been hampered by an foot injury since February. I will certainly not be surprised if she decides to withdraw before the tournament’s start, or falls in the early rounds.

Nathalie Dechy, France’s No. 3 player, has been in a slump all season and has only recorded four wins out of eleven tournaments in 2006. No. 25 Tatiana Golovin suffered a bad ankle sprain at the NASDAQ-100 Open in April and her participation at Roland Garros is in doubt.

Marion Bartoli is only one ranking spot away from her career high of No. 26, but her best singles finish at Roland Garros was the second round in 2003. Left-handed and world No. 46 Emilie Loit has had slightly better results, including last year’s third round finish, but most of her best results this season were at Tier III and IV events.

Regardless of Mauresmo’s performance over the next two weeks, you can rest assured that France will not give up on hoping for another French champion. I guess that is one thing they certainly have in common with their neighbors across the Channel.

If you enjoyed this tennis article, please sign up for a free subscription!