Mauresmo so proud

ByEurosport

Published 23/05/2006 at 09:01 GMT

Amelie Mauresmo is proud to be the first French player to start as the number one seed in the Open Era at Roland Garros and is not worried about her new status. "I take a lot of pride in this seeding, it means a lot to me", she said on Monday after being

"To start the tournament as the number one seed will spur me on even if I know that a lot of people will turn their attention to me", she added.

In years gone by, the 26-year-old has failed to live up to the expectations of a partisan home crowd on the clay in Paris and is yet to reach the semi-finals.

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This season got off to a perfect start as she finally clinched her maiden major title at the Australian Open, following up that success with indoor wins in Paris and Antwerp.

But she has struggled for form since the tour has moved onto clay.

The Frenchwoman was crushed 6-1 6-2 by current French Open champion Justine Henin-Hardenne in the semi-finals of the Berlin Open this month and then withdrew from the Rome Masters.

TENNIS 2006 WTA BERLIN Mauresmo

Image credit: dpa

"I had a sore throat but I'm feeling better now and getting stronger every day," she said. "I was sorry not be able to play in Rome where I always had good results but maybe it's a good thing.

"The previous years, I won in Rome or reached the final and it didn't help me in Paris."

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