UPDATED: Mary Pierce Withdraws from Olympics, Amelie Mauresmo Balks at Traveling to Beijing
Posted by Aaress Lawless on Jul 21, 2008 | Print | Email | Bookmark | Free Subscription
Mary Pierce’s goal of returning to tennis competition at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing has ended.
The two-time Grand Slam champion has withdrawn from the event because of continued problems with her left knee.
While the International Tennis Federation originally announced this morning that Mauresmo would replace Pierce, the former world No. 1 has declared her intention to skip the games entirely.
Pierce suffered a potentially career-ending injury in October 2006 at the Generali Ladies Linz tournament in Austria. She ruptured the cruciate ligament in her left knee and has not played on the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour since the accident.
Her father said in March that a comeback was imminent, but would depend on the status of her knee.
“I have to see how she responds to the knee,” said Jim Pierce. “But the way I will get her back in shape ordinarily would take two months. I’m not one of those country club training programs.”
The French Tennis Federation named Pierce to play singles at the Beijing Olympics, a surprising decision which demoted two-time Grand Slam champion Amelie Mauresmo to play doubles. A very disappointed Mauresmo then withdrew from the Olympics only days later.
When Pierce pulled out on Monday, Amelie Mauresmo was renamed to the French team–this time as a singles competitor. The former world number one won the silver medal at the Athens games in 2004.
But only hours later, the International Tennis Federation was forced to issue a second statement indicating that Mauresmo would not participate in singles or doubles.
This is not the first time the FFT has named a squad, only to discover that their players are not interested in competing. French Fed Cup captain Georges Goven named Mauresmo and Marion Bartoli to his team in January, but his top two stars refused to participate.
“A captain picks the players he believes are the best to represent their country,” Goven said about his Fed Cup decision. “Now, if they decide not to come, it’s their decision but they must take full responsibility for it.”
“They perfectly have the right to decline selection but I have the right to make clear I feel the best players should be selected,” Goven said. “If they don’t come, I will call up other players.”
Now that Pierce and Mauresmo are both sitting out the Olympics, France has called up Pauline Parmentier for singles and doubles.
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PaulaV | Jul 21, 2008 | Reply
Personally, I don’t understand why Mauresmo withdrew in the first place. Playing doubles in the Olympics isn’t so bad, right? Sounds like she didn’t think it was worth the effort.
It’s funny, some players would give their right arm to compete in the Olympics and represent their country, while others are kindof on the fence about it. Maybe it’s because she’s already won a medal.
Aaress Lawless | Jul 21, 2008 | Reply
Paula, I agree, but maybe Amelie wanted to head to Beijing as a serious contender, not just a player enjoying the Olympic experience?
Playing doubles with Tatiana Golovin might have made Amelie think twice about the trip. Golovin has only won three matches this season and has not been seen on the Tour since May because of a back injury—hardly the best preparation for the Olympics.
Still, the Olympics are not always about personal achievements, especially if you are playing a team event like doubles.
pov | Jul 21, 2008 | Reply
Tough to compete without their right arms - umm yeah. ;^) That said, when I read the first version I had thought that Mauresmo could well tell them to forget it. It was very strange for them to pick Pierce over her, then to want her to go as a replacement?
Van | Jul 21, 2008 | Reply
Hi all! I never understood why they named Mary Pierce to the squad anyway!
It seems every now and then there are glitches about players being named to national squads. Like why does Lisa Raymond always get left off of Olympics teams?
pov | Jul 21, 2008 | Reply
They’ll probably do a lot better competing with both arms intact - umm yeah. ;^)
That said, when I read the first version I had thought that Mauresmo could well tell them to forget it. It was very strange for them to pick Pierce over her, then to want her to go as a replacement?
Suze | Jul 22, 2008 | Reply
Not surprised really. France has other promising
youngsters who can replace them if need be. I guess the dilemma is always picking someone who can deal with both singles and doubles games. Mary Pierce was never a certainty to begin with.
Much like Lindsay Davenport and Lisa Raymond. You
can count on Lisa in the doubles, more so if she partners with Liezel. Well, they may have their reasons for the selections made.
PaulaV | Jul 22, 2008 | Reply
Nice one, POV - didn’t even think that the arm analogy wouldn’t work in this conversation.
I’ll have to think of another analogy…but what exactly would a tennis player be willing to give up to go to the Olympics? (not including body parts.)
PaulaV | Jul 22, 2008 | Reply
Wow. Any reason given for her pulling out of singles?
Aaress Lawless | Jul 22, 2008 | Reply
No official reason, as of yet. But it was pretty clear that Amelie was named to the squad, so she had to officially withdraw for the 2nd time.
Good question on the things players might give up to go to the Olympics, Paula! Off the top of my head, many players are willing to sacrifice prize money—and in times past, ranking points just to participate.
Any other ideas?
pov | Jul 23, 2008 | Reply
On a phrase that sums up how much some players want to go the Olympics - “Some players would climb mountains to go to the Olympics while others seem to debate if it’s worth an extra walk around the block “