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Rediff.com  » Sports » Mauresmo wants to match Graf's Grand Slam

Mauresmo wants to match Graf's Grand Slam

February 20, 2006 12:50 IST
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In-form Amelie Mauresmo has set her sights on emulating Steffi Graf's 1988 Grand Slam after a sensational start to the year.

Just a month after claiming her first Grand Slam title at the Australian Open, the Frenchwoman believes she can sweep the French Open, Wimbledon and the US Open this year.

Amelie Mauresmo"It's certainly within my grasp," world number two Mauresmo said after beating Kim Clijsters to win the Proximus Diamond Games in Antwerp on Sunday -- her third title in succession.

"I am still not firing on all cylinders just yet, so there is certainly better to come from me," added the 26-year-old who, until winning in Australia, was in danger of being labelled the best woman player never to win a Grand Slam title.

If Mauresmo reaches the final in Dubai this week she will reclaim the world number one position from Clijsters, having topped the charts in 2004, although she regards adding more Grand Slam titles as her main priority.

"Having been world number one, being number one is not that important. Winning another Grand Slam is more important to me," she said. "Winning Roland Garros in Paris of course for me as a French person is the pinnacle, but I want all four."

Mauresmo's lofty goals are a direct result of her Grand Slam breakthrough which gave her an injection of confidence to go with the mesmerising range of shots at her disposal.

"I think the way I handle things now having won in Australia and [the Tour Championship in] Los Angeles gives me a lot of confidence and I am much more relaxed on court which is good," Mauresmo said.

Apart from her personal targets, winning the Fed Cup for a second time is also high on the agenda for the proud French player who wants to see the competition given a better billing.

Mauresmo led France to Fed Cup victory in 2003, only to lose in the final to Russia last year.

"Winning another Fed Cup is a great goal for me this year and would be really nice," she said.

"I think it should be given more emphasis and is getting better with the sponsorship of BNP Paribas. It certainly should be on par with the Davis Cup."

 

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Source: REUTERS
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