By Ossian Shine
LONDON, May 18 - Although the pressure cooker
atmosphere of Roland Garros looms next week, France's Amelie
Mauresmo is already looking towards Wimbledon as she seeks a
first grand slam crown.
Despite having reached the world number one spot last year,
the 25-year-old has yet to win one of tennis's four major
tournaments in more than a decade on the tour.
The pressure at the French Open has always proved too much
for her and her best performances have come away from home.
A runner-up in the Australian Open in 1999, she has reserved
her best results in recent years for Wimbledon, reaching the
semi-finals twice in the past three years.
Her powerful, attacking game is well suited to the slick
lawns of the All England Club and the world number three has
opted to follow a tried and tested preparation schedule, signing
up to fine tune her grasscourt game at Eastbourne.
"I had a great week last year," the Frenchwoman said. "It
was a great way to prepare for Wimbledon...the courts were in
many ways better than Wimbledon's and very nice to play on."
A semi-finalist at Devonshire Park last year, Mauresmo said:
"I am looking forward to trying to win the trophy this year.
"It is always a strong tournament, with excellent players
and it will be tough to win, but I am playing well and will give
it a good go."
Mauresmo joins defending champion and U.S. Open winner
Svetlana Kuznetsova plus three-times grand slam champion Justine
Henin-Hardenne on England's south coast.
Another former world number one Henin-Hardenne will be
making her debut at Eastbourne.