Will France ever taste victory?

By Motez Robinson, Jr. Sports Central Columnist

With dreads flowing and a whole nation cheering him on, Yannick Noah served and volleyed his way to a straight-set win over then defending champion and heavy favorite Matts Wilander of Sweden in 1983. Noah became the first Frenchman in 37 years to win the world's premier clay-court championship. Marcel Bernard was the only other Frenchman since World War II to win the title in 1946.

The victory catapulted Noah into instant superstardom, standing taller than the Eiffel Tower in France. Not as celebrated or as heralded, though, is the upset that French-born Mary Pierce pulled in the 2000 French Open when she shocked a nation and clay-court specialist Conchita Martinez to win the title. Pierce, then living in the United States, became the first French woman to hoist the trophy since Francoise Durr did it in 1967.

French hopes of a victory now rest heavily on the broad shoulders of Amelie Mauresmo, currently ranked seventh in the world, and most notably made her biggest on-court statement by taking out world's number one Serena Williams in the Italian Open semifinals -- her first win in six tries against Williams.

Mauresmo appears to be in better mental and physical shape despite an early season knee injury that kept her out of numerous tournaments this year. She has not fared well in the last two French Opens, bowing out in the first and fourth rounds, respectively -- much to the disappointment of the French fans. Mauresmo, however, says that things will be different this year.

In an interview with Paris Match magazine, the talented French woman, who came out with her homosexuality during the 1999 Australian Open, says that a new partner has brought more stability to her life. Mauresmo insists that she will not succumb to the self-imposed pressures of being French and playing in front of the home crowd. She takes on Spain clay-courter Magui Serna, who dashed the hopes of young American Ashley Harkleroad.

On the men's side, the French lost their best hope when 14th-seeded Sebastian Grosjean was upset by Fernando Vincente of Spain in straight-sets. Grosjean, once ranked as high as fourth in the world, was a semifinalist at the French Open in 2001. A French long-shot and last hope rest with the crafty and talented Arnaud Clement, he is seeded 32nd at this year's championship. Clement will take on fellow countryman Nicolas Coutelot in the next round.

Will Noah be able to hand the cup over to a fellow Frenchman on the anniversary of his triumph 20 years ago? Can Mauresmo withstand the pressures of playing in front of the French crowd? We will have the answers by June 8th.

Article courtesy of Sports Central.