By Etienne Stekelenburg
October 7 2004
(Filderstadt) The new No.1 of the ranking Amelie Mauresmo of France defeats Swiss Patty Schnyder in two sets, 7-5, 6-4. Being the first French being ranked at No. 1 Mauresmo was presented with an award reaching the top spot yesterday.
There is
also the possibility that the Frenchwoman losing her position after the Porsche
Tennis Grand Prix has finished. American Lindsay Davenport can take over the
No.1 again in the autumn of her career when the following scenarios occur.
Amelie
Mauresmo won the second round match so scenario one is dealt with. Beating
Swiss Patty Schnyder took 87 minutes; Schnyder was the better player in the
first set. The Swiss was leading 5-2 before the No. 1 started to play as a
No.1.
Mauresmo
breaks for 5-4 when Schnyder hits a backhand long for 30-40. In the rally
Schnyder is played out of position by a clever playing Mauresmo, Schnyder can
only return with her backhand to hit the ball into the net.

Keeping up
her game Mauresmo ties for 5 all hitting good serves and a winning forehand
cross-court. In Schnyder’s next service game she is trailing 0-40 hitting
unforced errors. After spreading her shots all over the court Schnyder
outsmarts Mauresmo who hits the ball into the net, 15-40. The next point goes
to Mauresmo when Schnyder hits a forehand into the net and the first seed
Mauresmo breaks for 6-5.
There is
nothing Schnyder can do to turn the tide; Mauresmo is hitting winners to win
the first set. Playing service volley Mauresmo three winners to secure the set,
7-5 in 48 minutes.
In the
second set Mauresmo leads 5-3 after breaking in the third game. Schnyder can
score for 4-5 and takes away Mauresmo’s first matchpoint, gained through a
double fault, with a solid serve. A good forehand winner gives Schnyder
advantage and Mauresmo hits the ball long and Schnyder wins her game.

Mauresmo is
now serving for the match. She takes 15-0 after fending off Schnyder s attacks.
Schnyder’s forehand is going wild and out for 30-0. Mauresmo gets to her second
matchpoint when Schnyder hits a ball long for 40-15 but now the Frenchwoman
hits the net. The Swiss comes back to deuce when Mauresmo hits again a ball
into the net but a service return hit wide gives Mauresmo her third matchpoint
and advantage. Schnyder hits a forehand wide and it's game, set and match for
Mauresmo after 97 minutes of play.
“I started
off slow, she had already played a match and I was at my first one. I was
trying to take the match to a higher level but made too many unforced errors in
the beginning”, Mauresmo said about her play in the first set.
“Being No.1 means a lot to me and it would be great if I could keep the spot till the end of the year. It is a big relieve being No.1, it has been a childhood dream that comes through. One goal is reached. The next thing is winning a Grand Slam.”
