A Tour de Force Set for Dubai’s Barclays Tennis Championships
Posted by Aaress Lawless on Feb 19, 2008 | Print |
Image courtesy of Barclays Dubai Tennis Championships
France’s finest stars are set to hit the courts at next week’s Barclays Tennis Championships in Dubai.
The memories of a disappointing 2007 season are behind Amelie Mauresmo, inspiring her to return to the form that led her to two Grand Slam titles in 2006.
Former world number one Mauresmo lifted the Dubai trophy in 2002, beating now retired Monica Seles to reach the final. The softly-spoken 28-year old almost earned a repeat last year, reaching the final again before losing in two tight sets against Justine Henin.
Shortly after that Mauresmo underwent emergency appendix surgery, and she found it a greater challenge than she expected to return to the form that had not only taken her to the Dubai final but to a title in Antwerp. Further finals followed in Strasbourg and Eastbourne, but most of the season was a frustrating struggle.
“Next year can only be better,” she said at her last event of the 2007 season. “I won’t have that many points to defend, and especially physically I really want to feel better, because I’ve been struggling. So I’m really looking forward to finding this back, then I know the rest is going to come.”
Mauresmo has won seven matches so far in 2008, including quarterfinal finishes at Gold Coast and Paris.
Also coming along for the ride in Dubai is 2007 Wimbledon finalist Marion Bartoli.
Bartoli shot onto the public radar in July after upsetting world No. 1 Justine Henin in the semifinals. She did lose the championship match to Venus Williams, but not before capturing enough memories to last her a lifetime.
“Wimbledon is so special because of all those traditions,” said Bartoli. “To go through the locker room to the Centre Court, you see the trophies and walk into that court and you know you’re a part of history. I will be the finalist of Wimbledon in ‘07 for ever, and you feel that so much. The court, it’s like you have the crowd so close to you, you feel it. I feel all this tradition, and the Prince coming to the courts, all this stuff makes the tournament really, really special.”
Justine Henin, Ana Ivanovic, Jelena Jankovic, Maria Sharapova, and Serena Williams are also expected to compete in Dubai for the Barclays Tennis Championships.
Play begins on February 25, 2008 with the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour tournament, and is followed by the ATP event from March 3rd to 8th.
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Bob | Feb 21, 2008 | Reply
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