Mauresmo Overpowers Serena to Advance to Quarterfinals - 阿梅莉·莫瑞絲摩 Mauresmo

http://www.usopen.org
by Associated Press
Posted Date: Monday, September 4, 2006

Gasping for breath after long exchanges, Serena Williams ran out of energy
and shots against Amelie Mauresmo.

In a showdown between two women who've been ranked No. 1 and own a total of
nine Grand Slam titles, the top-seeded Mauresmo won nine of the last 12
points Monday night to beat the unseeded Williams 6-4, 0-6, 6-2 and reach the
US Open quarterfinals.

After a tight first set, Williams rolled through the second and looked as if
nothing could prevent her from improving her career record against Mauresmo
to 10-1. But the outcome turned in the sixth game of the final set, when a
35-stroke exchange ended with Williams pushing a backhand into the net, then
pausing for air. That sent Mauresmo on her way to a key break -- and Williams
wouldn't win another game.

On match point, they engaged in a 24-stroke rally that Mauresmo ended with a
sharply angled volley Williams couldn't get to in time.

Williams came to Flushing Meadows having played only 12 matches all season
because of a six-month break she used to rehab her surgically repaired left
knee and to refresh herself mentally, too. During the time off, Williams
tumbled out of the top 100 in the rankings, and needed a wild-card invitation
to play at the Open.

If there have been questions about Williams' health and preparation of late,
Mauresmo has been steadily erasing the doubts about her mental toughness. She
didn't win any of her first 31 Grand Slam tournaments, but she's now closing
in on her third such championship this year, after the Australian Open and
Wimbledon.

``The experience I've got really helped me tonight,'' Mauresmo said. ``It's
starting to show a little bit on the court.''

That was certainly the case the way she hung in there after a disastrous
second set. Mauresmo lost 20 of the set's first 26 points and finished with
one winner. But she regrouped in the third, while seven-time major champion
Williams appeared to tire, and the Frenchwoman began controlling the tempo
the way she had early.

Mauresmo wrong-footed Williams with groundstrokes and gave her fits by mixing
speeds and spins. One example: Mauresmo broke to end the first set by
launching a high-bouncing shot that Williams' backhand couldn't handle,
sailing the ball wide.

With that, Mauresmo raised a fist, clenched her jaw and jogged to her
sideline seat. Williams walked over slowly, her sister Venus (sidelined with
a wrist injury) and mother looking on from the guest box, while her father
snapped photos from elsewhere in the stands.

There was a whole different scene in the second set, when Williams played
some standout defense. It was the strongest rebuttal yet to those who've
wondered whether Williams is in good enough shape to compete with the best.
As if to make a point, Williams walked around the far side of the net when
the players switched sides after the first game of each set; she didn't take
advantage, as Mauresmo did, of the chance to pause for a sip of water or an
extra breath by her seat.

Now Mauresmo plays No. 12 Dinara Safina, whose path to the final eight hasn't
included a match against a seeded player.

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