Mauresmo suffers more French Open heartache

By Pritha Sarkar

PARIS (Reuters) - Amelie Mauresmo's French Open dreams turned to dust in the first round on Sunday when she was beaten 6-4 6-3 by Germany's Anna-Lena Groenefeld.

The former Australian Open and Wimbledon champion has never felt at home in front of her own fans at Roland Garros but had hoped to enjoy her 15th tilt at the title.

It was not meant to be, however, and a sloppy forehand long on matchpoint summed up her miserable day.

Mauresmo suffered her earliest defeat since 2001 and with her 30th birthday fast approaching, she is unlikely to have many more chances of improving on her two quarter-final showings here.

With the sun setting over Roland Garros, the former world number one stormed off Centre Court and was in no mood for any small talk.

Asked if she had again cracked under pressure at Roland Garros, Mauresmo said: "Don't know. I don't know. I don't know."

"Don't you even try," she told a reporter who tried to ask her if Sunday's loss was different from the others in Paris.

As a parting shot, she also criticised the organisers for allowing her match to go ahead just after 8pm local time.