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Mauresmo is #1 - A Reader Responds It’s time for a reality check from a guy who thrives on dealing them. Amelie Mauresmo is not the top women’s tennis player in the world. And I’m sorry to say, it’s hardly a debatable subject. I recently caught a glance at the WTA rankings and nearly fainted when I saw Mauresmo’s name at the top of the list. What has she done to warrant such a position in the world rankings?? It’s time to further examine this. To be the best, you have to beat the best in the games biggest venues. When you think about the top athletes in the world in their various sports, that’s one theme that seems to be consistent. Whether it’s Tiger Woods and his seven majors or his tennis equivalent, Martina Navratilova, who won 18 grand slam singles titles in addition to her numerous grand slam conquests on the doubles side. Woods has gone eye-to-eye with the worlds best. The likes of Vijay Singh and Phil Mickelson. Navratilova took down the Graf’s and Sabatini’s of the world. Great players in there own rite. A quick glance at Mauresmo’s record versus the players ranked immediately below her, show an average record at best with mediocre, at best, results in grand slams. Oh yeah, by the way, she hasn’t won a grand slam. She’s been the proverbial disappointment time and time again. I consider myself a B-Level tennis fan. Will watch a regular tournament if it’s on television. Will watch the Grand Slams in a much-more focused fashion. Every time I tune in a big grand slam hoping to see her win, she falls flat on her face. Does it mean she’ll never win one? Not at all. Take a look at Phil Mickelson. Golf’s biggest bride’s-maid up until this past year when he won his first grand slam, capturing a Master’s Green Jacket. Phil suffered many of the same collapses we’ve seen Mauresmo suffer over the past few years. But in the end, a champion will break out and win the big one. Mauresmo has won plenty of tournaments that virtually nobody cares about. But when it comes to the majors, she hasn’t gotten the job done. She hasn’t even been in a final of a Grand Slam this year. After withdrawing from the Quarterfinals of the Australian Open with an injury, she lost in the French quarters in straight sets. In what looked like her best opportunity to win a major this year (Wimbledon), she blew a lead against Serena Williams. At the U.S. Open, she again blew a lead in losing to eventual runner-up Elena Dementieva. The Olympics in Athens? It was the same story with Mauresmo losing in straight sets to Justin Henin-Hardenne. So how does she get ranked No. 1? Well for one, she goes relatively deep into a lot of tournaments. You’ll never see her getting bounced out in the first round. And her three wins this season in tournaments that ultimately mean little have helped her as well. They give her what’s known as “Quality Points.” The points that matter to me are the ones given when you win a Grand Slam, and those are points that Mauresmo has failed to win. The best thing I can say for Mauresmo is that she has the physical “game” to win at least one major. A big server who despite her size, can get around the court and hit some of the crispest ground-strokes you’ll ever see. At this point, it might be time to start questioning her “mental” game. She may have herself psyched out before she ever gets onto the court. I can see the hate-mail now. Lesbians around the country referring to me as the “male homo-sexist.” Because heaven forbid anyone in the gay community say anything that might make another person in “the community” look bad. That’s not the goal here. The goal here is to be honest with you, and in turn, help you be honest with yourselves. Mauresmo is a good tennis player. She’s not the best in the world. Those spots are reserved for those who perform at their best on the games greatest stages. Jason Page works with Sirius Satellite Radio on its NFL Channel. He alsoprovides minor-league baseball play-by-play for select games of the Newark Bears. He can be reached via e-mail. Oct. 6, 2004 |
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