Amelie Mauresmo, a French tennis player who is openly gay, finally won a Grand Slam title. After seven frustrating years, Mauresmo had a satisfying, if somewhat anticlimactic, victory when Belgian opponent Justine Henin-Hardenne retired in the second set of their final because of stomach pain, ESPN.com reported.
Mauresmo led 6-1, 2-0 when Henin-Hardenne walked to the net and told the umpire she could not continue. Suddenly a champion, Mauresmo was stunned. She consoled Henin-Hardenne, walked back onto the court and held her arms up in triumph.
One of the top players in the world (and seeded third in this tournament), Mauresmo had a reputation for choking in the big matches. According to NBC5i.com, she previously held a No. 1 world ranking and had failed to reach a final since losing the 1999 title match at Melbourne Park to Martina Hingis.
Henin-Hardenne, who retired in the second set, lost in a Grand Slam final for only the second time. Mauresmo, who was playing in her 32nd career Grand Slam tournament, won her final two matches of the tournament after injuries to her opponent. In the semifinals, she was ahead in the third set when another Belgian, Kim Clijsters, retired due to an ankle ailment.