Disheartened Mauresmo could quit

Amelie Mauresmo has admitted she is considering retiring from tennis if her struggles with poor form continue.

France's former world number one has won just eight matches since losing her Wimbledon singles title last July.

The 28-year-old told French sports daily L'Equipe: "I sometimes ask myself what the hell I am doing, (playing) in front of half-empty stands.

"In the back of your mind there's always a little something wondering if it wouldn't be better to stop."

Mauresmo's poor run continued in Doha this week when she lost in the second round of the Qatar Open to Thailand's Tamarine Tanasugarn, 7-6 (9-7) 7-5.

"It's typically the type of situation where you wish you were somewhere else," said the world number 29.

"I came to this tournament wanting to do well, but there's always a grain of sand that gets in the works and clogs things up. It's difficult to take."

She added: "I want to carry on playing, and as long as I'm motivated, I'll continue.

"But at the same time I wonder if I don't talk myself into it, will I still have that desire?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/tennis/7260266.stm

This is very sad, although I was kind of expecting it.

I hope she sticks at it but somehow I think the desire has gone.

It'l be a big loss to the game if she does go, she's one of if not the most stylish player in the women's game.

Her problem has to be psychological-she no longer believes she can win, therefore she can't win. I can't believe there's any physical deterioration that can account for her loss of form.

That's really bad for the game...I just love her style of play...she is naturally gifted to play the one handed backhand.. I just hope she continues playing..the psychological stuff has always been big on her game but despite that she has gone on to win two grand slams..although one of it was by default and both against a mentally tough player...but i reckon its going to be very tough for her to bounce back into the top 3...or even top 5 now. :(

Sad I agree. I likeher game and Womens tennis is where we can still play SV. Unfortunetaly, no other decent players are trying to exploit this gap.

well Justine does... :shrug:

I agree. Amelie is one of my current favourites, it is such a shame that she finally got over her nerves winning 2 GSs in oen year, and then suddenly had the appendix setback and has never really got it together since. :( If I were her I'd just pu tall my efforts this yearinto Wimby.

Not quite. Justine is closer to Federer (your idol) than Momo's S. .

Justine is an all round and all surface player. She can volley but as a rule she isn't a serve and volleyer, and if she were mainyl that I doubt she'd be that successful.

Yeah Justine still isnt the all-out forecourt player mauresmo is. Justinme is far more slective when coming into the net and hasnt got as great technique up at net as Mauresmo has. Justine's like a lot of the players who comes in off a short ball rather than pursuing the net off the first point.

Yeah well summed up :ok: I serve and volleyer like Nav would force to get to the net, whereas Justine is muchmore confident at the net than most but isn't forcing the issue to get there.

I got back into following tennis after Amelie won Wimbledon, So I'm hoping she can find her form and desire as well. Somebody in the forum on her website said she might benefit from playing doubles for a while-your thoughts on this?

I dunno I still think Justine will force the issue and come to the net when she can. Sure she doesn't do it on every point but I don't think she just sits back and waits for a short ball before she gets to the net... :shrug:

I agree..she's the sort of player who likes to mix things up...she tries different things each time. Perhaps something like Roger. Fed does not serve and volley all the time but can do it when needed. Ditto Justine. She can do it if she wants to but her serve may be her drawback..something she tries to change everytime hoping to do well in Wimbey.Anyway she does pounce on a short ball but effectively plays at the net once she sees that she has the upperhand in the game.
Amelie is different. I think she is excellent at the net too and would perhaps be better off with more confidence in her shots. I just pray that she doesn't quit this early :pray:

I really hope that Amelie can find something inside her that allows her to get back to the top of the game, which is where her and her game belongs. The game is missing her up there alongsidew the likes of Sharapova, Henin, the Serbs and the Williams Sisters.

Amelie is my fav player. (After all time fav Jen Capriati). I hope she will try her best again and see. She has had tuff years with injuries etc, but then she has bounced back. I accept she is not young anymore ( on tennis terms) but still 28.

Is it mental exhaustion? Kim could not go forward once she has won the US Open.

Well Amelie has done more, 2 GSs, silver at Olympics, Fedcups, YEC, 39 weeks at #1 etc.

Comeon Amelie: Try for one more year and if it doesn't click then yeah give up! But not yet !!!