After much to-do about the matter, it's true: Amelie Mauresmo is Andy Murray's new coach, at least for now. She will work with him through the 2014 grass-court season, anyway, and beyond that, who's to say? Interestingly, Mary Carillo said during today's NBC telecast of the French Open men's final that in no way could she see Rafael Nadal or Novak Djokovic hiring a female coach.
To be sure, Mauresmo demurred publicly last week about the idea of joining Murray's team, calling such rumors "not serious." Even so, the 2006 Australian Open and Wimbledon champion has signed on. And with that, the Spin presents six items you may not know (or recall) about her.
1. She's just 34 years old, a mere year older than Venus Williams, who continues to tough it out on the WTA tour despite illness.
2. She retired in 2009 at age 30. Meanwhile, Serena Williams and Li Na are kicking it at age 32, Nos. 1 and 2 in the world. Neither performed well at Roland Garros this year, but one has to think Mauresmo has wondered what could have been, and in light of Kim Clijsters and Justine Henin's retirements.
3. She was the silver medalist at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece, losing the title-round match to Henin.
4. After the 2004 U.S. Open, she became just the second player to take the No. 1 ranking without having won a Grand Slam singles title. The first? Clijsters. Others—Jelena Jankovic, Dinara Safina, and Caroline Wozniacki—would follow, and would face much more ballyhoo over the situation.
5. At the 2006 Aussie Open, Mauresmo defeated Clijsters and Henin to claim the crown. Both retired from their matches against her, with Henin facing an onslaught of criticism for doing so in the final when down 6-1, 2-0.
6. Mauresmo would all but "avenge" that win over Henin, again taking her out in the Wimbledon final about six months later. She beat Maria Sharapova in the semifinals.
What's your favorite memory of Mauresmo from her pro playing days?
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