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Fri 12 Dec 2009Mauresmo decides to call it a day
TENNIS NEWS:WHEN AMELIE Mauresmo reached the final of the 1999 Australian Open as a 19-year-old, the word “frail” was not in anybody’s mind. Despite losing to Switzerland’s Martina Hingis, who referred to her as “half a man”, many believed the hugely talented Frenchwoman, with a superlative top-spin single-handed backhand, would reel off a host of grand slams.
Yesterday she retired with 25 titles to her name, including the 2006 Australian Open and Wimbledon title, a total that would have been higher but for the chronic nerves of this highly sensitive and intelligent player. In Madrid during the spring, Mauresmo was still hoping for more success, having earlier won the indoor title in Paris.
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