Mauresmo’s final step comes easiest
MELBOURNE, Australia – Amelie Mauresmo of France won her first Grand Slam title today, dominating Justine Henin-Hardenne before the Belgian retired in the second set of the Australian Open tennis final because of stomach pain.
Mauresmo won the first set 6-1 and was leading 2-0 in the second when Henin-Hardenne walked to the net and told the chair umpire she could not continue.
It ended a frustrating, seven-year wait for Mauresmo, who lost the 1999 Australian Open final to Martina Hingis and had not reached another Grand Slam championship match since.
Mauresmo had the second-longest wait for her first major title in the Open era, taking 32 Grand Slam tournaments to win a final. Jana Novotna won Wimbledon in 1998, her 45th major.
“It’s been such a long time, and yet I still don’t know what to say,” Mauresmo said. “All the people that still believed in me, after seven years – it’s a long time. Not only myself, but people who’re working with me, believed me and pushed me, even when I was down.
“Maybe we found the way, maybe we’ll try to keep going.”
Henin-Hardenne held for the only time in the sixth game, when Mauresmo sent a forehand just wide. She lost the first set in 33 minutes on consecutive forehand errors and got only 29 percent of her first serves in.
Mauresmo broke serve and then held again to lead 2-0 in the second before Henin-Hardenne called for the trainer. She lost two more points before retiring.
“I was feeling so sick and I couldn’t stay longer on the court,” Henin-Hardenne said. “I’m feeling very disappointed to end the tournament this way.
“I’m sorry I couldn’t find a little bit more. I want to say congratulations to Amelie. She has waited so long to get her first Grand Slam title.”
It was the second consecutive match and third in the tournament that an opponent retired because of illness or injury against Mauresmo.
Michaella Krajicek retired with heat stress in the third round and second-seeded Kim Clijsters retired after turning her ankle early in the third set of their semifinal on Thursday.
Henin-Hardenne, who has four Grand Slam singles titles and was on a 13-match winning streak at Melbourne Park, burst into tears when she reached a courtside chair after quitting.
The men’s final is Sunday, with top-ranked Roger Federer set to face 20-year-old Marcos Baghdatis.
Federer spoke with Rod Laver – who won a pair of Grand Slams by winning all four majors in 1962 and 1969 – for the first time just hours before his Australian Open semifinal against Nicolas Kiefer.
Federer was imperious as he advanced 6-3, 5-7, 6-0, 6-2 to the championship match against the 54th-ranked Baghdatis.
Federer is aiming for his third consecutive major.