By Ronit Bezalel
All's fair in love and war. Or is it? I'm not quite sure how I feel right now.
On the one hand, I'm thrilled that my girl, Amelie Mauresmo, finally scored her first Grand Slam title by beating Justine Henin-Hardenne in the 2006 Australian Open. But I'm stunned at the way it happened. Complaining of an upset stomach, Henin-Hardenne quit. That's right: She surrendered mid-match and Mauresmo, who was leading, won by default.
What a crummy way to win.
I've been following Mauresmo's career since she was a teenager. At 19, the talented French star reached the finals of the 1999 Aussie Open—and promptly lost to 'Swiss Miss' Martina Hingis. Still, it was an inspiring match and a precursor to a presumed storied career.
At 19, Mauresmo was also the first female tennis player since Martina Navratilova to speak publicly about being a lesbian. It happened after the 1999 Aussie Open, when Mauresmo, flush with the joy of reaching the semi-finals, hugged her then-girlfriend in the stands. It wasn't supposed to be a big deal or a political statement. Tennis was Mauresmo's game, not politics. Yet she found herself in a maelstrom of public opinion and personal attacks from the media. Even Hingis spitefully called her 'half a man' ( whatever that means ) . It was a lot to deal with for the 19-year-old who just wanted to play tennis.
The next seven years proved turbulent. Despite a No. 1 ranking and reaching the quarterfinals in 13 of 15 Grand Slam events, Mauresmo crumbled under pressure and never won when it counted most. People questioned her mental toughness as that beckoning Grand Slam title became so ... maddeningly ... elusive.
Despite all her detractors, Mauresmo was ready for the 2006 season. She looked strong, physically and mentally. She was gaining that killer instinct, the will to win.
Who knew that the 2006 Aussie open would turn into such a farce as Mauresmo's opponents went down in bizarre fashion? First, there was Michaella Krajicek, who withdrew claiming heat exhaustion. Then Kim Clijsters pulled out of the semi-finals citing an injured ankle. And in the finals, Henin-Hardenne surrendered due to stomach pains, leaving Mauresmo the victor.
Mauresmo had done it; she'd finally captured her first Grand Slam title. But the elation of winning was tempered with reality. Who the hell wants to win by default?
Mauresmo reportedly celebrated the win by opening a bottle of vintage wine she'd been saving for her first Grand Slam win. The dusty bottle had been sitting on the shelf for seven long years. I'll bet it tasted bittersweet. Just like the win.
