Sport | Tennis
Mauresmo says there is no need to worry
Former world number one Amelie Mauresmo feels she does not need to press any panic button following her quarterfinal exit at the Barclays Dubai Tennis Championships on Thursday.
- By Alaric Gomes, Senior Reporter
- Published: 01:04 March 1, 2008
- Image Credit: Karl Jeffs/Gulf News
- Amelie Mauresmo of France returns to Svetlana Kuznetsova of Russia. Kuznetsova took the match 6-1, 7-6.
Dubai: Former world number one Amelie Mauresmo feels she does not need to press any panic button following her quarterfinal exit at the Barclays Dubai Tennis Championships on Thursday.
"I don't think there is any reason to worry about anything," Mauresmo said at the post-match media conference on Thursday.
"I have played much better here than in Doha, and I am leaving Dubai in a much better frame of mind," Mauresmo smiled.
Winner of 24 singles career titles, Mauresmo fell in straight sets 6-1, 7-6 (4) to second seeded Russian Svetlana Kuznetsova in Thursday's quarterfinal.
"In the first set, I just couldn't do anything as she was putting so much pressure and finishing each game in just two or three winners," Mauresmo stated.
The second set was more balanced and the Frenchwoman got her opponent off rhythm by staying aggressive on her serve. But that was not enough as Kuznetsova was able to deliver during key moments.
"I expected to play better in the tie-break, but that did not happen. There is no reason to worry really," insisted the 28-year-old.
Winner at the Australian Open and Wimbledon two years ago, Mauresmo's moment of glory came in September 2004 when she became the first Frenchwoman to hold the position. But recent losses on the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour have made her wonder whether her tennis career is at the crossroads.
She has not struck the best of forms starting this season. Last week, she fell to Thai qualifier Tamarine Tanasugarn at the Doha Open and a week earlier she had made it to the last eight stage at the Paris Indoors.
She was the losing quarterfinalist at Gold Coast and a third round casualty at the Australian Open.
"I would have loved to play another match here, but then I came up a bit short," Mauresmo said.
"I have definitely played more encouraging tennis and I am happy with the way I have been feeling comfortable on court. From now on it is just a matter of staying positive and confident for the future," she assessed.
Mauresmo, who has swiftly slipped down the world rankings to a dismal number 22, is committed to playing Indian Wells and Miami later this month.
"I will stick to my schedule," she said.
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