LONDON - Amelie Mauresmo was left to dwell on yet another missed opportunity after she stumbled in the Wimbledon semi-finals for the third time today.
On each of her last three visits to the All England Club, the Frenchwoman has reached the last four and every time she has had to
walk off court a beaten player.
The 6-7 7-6 6-4 defeat by American top seed Lindsay Davenport left the 25-year-old still searching for her first grand slam title.
"It was a great match but of course, even though you play great, you want still to have the win at the end of the day, which is not the case," said Mauresmo.
"I played good but not good enough to beat Lindsay."
After a decade of trying, the talented Mauresmo has yet to win one of the four major trophies in tennis.
She reached her first grand slam final at the 1999 Australian Open as a 19-year-old but has yet to even repeat that feat.
Twelve months after squandering a set and a break lead in her semi-final against Serena Williams, Mauresmo suffered another meltdown against Davenport.
Leading by a set and 3-1 on Thursday, Mauresmo again allowed her opponent to get back into the match.
By the time the players had to abandon play due to torrential rain, the writing was already on the wall for the third seed as she served to stay in the match.
While Mauresmo was still feeling the effects of a sleepless night, Davenport needed only three minutes 44 seconds on Friday to seal a place in Sunday's final against Venus Williams.
"It's just very disappointing right now I really felt I would have been able to win this match," said Mauresmo.
"But she was able to come back with great returning games at the key moments and also some good serving in the third set, not only today but also last night.
"I also knew that she wouldn't give it to me and I would have to fight for it.
"Right now the frustration and the disappointment is here. That's very tough."
- REUTERS
