An exhausted Amelie Mauresmo had to ask how many match points she failed to convert after finally completing her version of ‘The Great Escape’ at the Brisbane International.
The answer was four, all in a spine-tingling 24-point final set tiebreak on Wednesday against French compatriot Julie Coin, a qualifying lucky loser.
Down 2-5 in the third set and poised to become the fifth women’s seed eliminated from the inaugural event before the end of the second round, Mauresmo drew on all her experience and fighting qualities to prevail 5-7 6-2 7-6(11) in a three hour, 14 minute marathon.
The former world No.1 regained a break and started holding her faltering serve but still had to fight the nerves to seal the match against her former junior clubmate who grew up idolising her.
Mauresmo wasted her first match point by double-faulting at 6-4, failed to convert three more and fought off three match points to the world No.95 before eventually taking the gripping encounter when her opponent sliced a backhand long.
“How many match points were saved?” the astonished 29-year-old asked the media after the 89-minute third set.
It was the longest clash in her 733-match WTA career, which has reaped the 2006 Australian Open and Wimbledon titles.
“You know, I really don’t know what to say about this match,” she said. “I’m just glad that I won it because it would have really been the ‘missed-occasions match’ if I didn’t. That’s the good and positive point for today.
“Other than that it’s a lot of ups and downs and frustration because I was not able to make the difference when I was supposed to and I had so many break points and was not able to convert them.”
Mauresmo is now set to face tournament drawcard Ana Ivanovic, expected to make light work of Italian qualifier Roberta Vinci on Wednesday night, in the quarterfinals but is thinking more of massage and physio.
After several stalled comebacks following injuries over the past 18 months, the 29 year old, who also endured a tough two-hour first-round clash against Jelena Dokic, will consider withdrawing from the Sydney International to ensure her body is in top shape for the Australian Open.
“It’s tough, it’s tough,” Mauresmo said. I’m tight everywhere so there will be a lot of work for my physio. I’m just going to relax and he’ll do the job.”
Although Coin came through the same club and French juniors three years after Mauresmo, the pair had only met once previously, last August after the little-known mathematics graduate pulled off one of the biggest upset in US Open history by beating Ivanovic in the second round.
Mauresmo again looked to have her measure when she took an early break and served for the first set at 5-3 but the left-hander, possessing a killer forehand, stormed back to win the next four games.
“Last time when I played her I was kind of nervous because it was her,” said Coin, who only gained entry to the main draw when ill Russian eighth seed Maria Kirilenko withdrew on the opening morning. “When I was younger she was an idol.
“This time I tried to take more risks and play my game. And it almost worked out.”
Ironically Coin and Mauresmo couldn’t claim the longest match record as at the fledgling tournament Italian Sara Errani, playing at the same time, outlasted Bulgarian Tsvetkana Pironkova 6-7(3) 7-5 6-3 in more than three-and-a-half hours.
Have you picked your team of tennis aces?
You have until the start of play at the Australian Open to select a team of 16 men and 16 women in our online fantasy game SuperTennis.
Points will be awarded for the performance of your team members and you can switch the mix around right up until 19 January.
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Go to www.supertennis.com.au to register your team today.
Have you picked your team of tennis aces?
You have until the start of play at the Australian Open to select a team of 16 men and 16 women in our online fantasy game SuperTennis.
Points will be awarded for the performance of your team members and you can switch the mix around right up until 19 January.
The SuperTennis selector with the most points wins a cash prize of AUD$5000.
Go to www.supertennis.com.au to register your team today.