Mauresmo’s patience finally rewarded

AMELIE MAURESMO’S Wimbledon triumph was further evidence that all good things come to those who wait.

Wine-loving Mauresmo has been gradually improving with age and ended an eight-year itch with a 2-6 6-3 6-4 victory over French-speaking Belgian Justine Henin-Hardenne to become the first Frenchwoman to lift the Venus Rosewater Dish for 81 years.

Mauresmo, who had been threatening to dominate women’s tennis since reaching the Australian Open final as a teenager in 1999, made the big breakthrough in Melbourne in January this year and, three days after her 27th birthday, she finally managed to win the hearts of the centre-court crowd.