Amelie Mauresmo is an icon of tennis. As a player, Mauresmo was a force to be reckoned with on the court. Off the court, the French tennis player was a trailblazer as well. Amelie left a mark, especially because she was one of the very few players who were out of the closet from the beginning of their career.
The former French star reached the pinnacle of success in her career, which spanned 15 years. Mauresmo won two major titles—one at the Australian Open and the other at Wimbledon in 2006. She was a powerful player, but her physique and her sexuality were always the two major talking points.
Amelie has paved the way for a new generation of players, showing how to be comfortable in their skin. In this article, we will take a closer look at the life and achievements of the former French star.
Amelie Mauresmo, the openly out player
Tennis has seen many queer players, particularly in the WTA, like Billie Jean King and Martina Navratilova. However, these stalwarts came out as gay well after they had retired from the sport. Not Amelie, though.
Mauresmo came out at the start of her career when she was only 19 years old. She enjoyed a successful run at the Australian Open in 1999. The player defeated the top-ranked Lindsay Davenport and celebrated by jumping into the arms of her then-girlfriend.
Amelie did not have to announce her sexuality to the world, but her grand display of affection was a statement enough. She did not have the smoothest journey since then, but Mauresmo never bowed to the pressure or the snide remarks.
So who was Mauresmo’s girlfriend? It was 31-year-old Sylvie Bourdon. Despite the age difference between them, Mauresmo and Bourdan hit off immediately. In fact, Amelie credited being out of the closet and being in love as the reasons for playing well.
As an out-and-proud lesbian, Amelie won two Grand Slams. Her laurels do not end here, as she won the silver medal at the 2004 Olympics for France. Moreover, Amelie won 17 titles before she hung up her racket. She did rue how her sexuality and looks took away from her achievements as a player.
Mauresmo had to deal with a lot of unpleasant comments
At 5’10, Amelie had the body of an Amazonian warrior. She was often the subject of unpleasant comments due to her sexuality and her powerful build. Mauresmo grew up competing with boys, and she was determined to make a mark on the tennis courts.
She was a determined and skilled player, with an arsenal of shots in her repertoire. Her one-handed backhand was a sight to behold! Unfortunately, many chose to focus on her body rather than her skills, including her colleagues.
Martina Hingis did not have the kindest of words for Mauresmo. She likened the French tennis player to a man, stating that Amelie was “half a man.” When the two teenagers were set to lock horns in the Australian Open finals in 1999, the atmosphere around the match was tense. It was more than just jitters for a major title, as it had to do with Martina‘s previous comments.
As the two players posed for a photo ahead of the clash, the difference between them could not be more stark. Hingis took to the courts in a black and white tennis dress. Amelie, on the other hand, wore a pair of dark blue shorts and a singlet, showing off her rippling muscles.
Davenport had also commented on Mauresmo’s shoulders, whom the French player had knocked out in the semifinals. “At times I thought I was playing a guy. She’s so powerful, such shoulders,” said Lindsay. Amelie was very upset with their comments, but after the two players apologized to her, she forgave them.
A French satire show took a dig at Amelie when they put a woman’s head on top of a puppet with Arnold Schwarzenegger’s body. What Amelie Mauresmo endured was horrible, but it took a lot of courage to come out as a lesbian when the general public was not as accepting.
Amelie’s love life
Mauresmo’s love life has been the talking point within the tennis community for a long time. The decision to reveal her sexuality was not an easy one. Mauresmo felt it was more terrifying than playing her first Grand Slam final.
She dated Sylvie Bourdon, who was 12 years older than her. They met after Mauresmo joined a coaching school in St. Tropez. Bourdon was friends with the coach, the former player, Isabelle Demongeot, and met Amelie through her.
Mauresmo credited Sylvie for playing so well. Moreover, the decision to come out was driven by her love for Bourdon. Additionally, Amelie did not want fans to speculate about her sexuality.
“I just took a deep breath and told everyone, and I hope I can be respected for what I am. I love Sylvie and I don’t care who knows it. We are very happy together. Being with her makes me feel good in my head and good physically and it has led to me playing the best tennis of my life,” said Mauresmo.
Amelia and Sylvie eventually went their own ways. Since then, Mauresmo has become more private about her love life and rarely divulges details to the media.
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She dated Maria-Benedicte Hurel from 2014 before tying the knot in 2021. Amelie gave birth to two kids: a boy named Aaron in 2015 and a girl named Ayla in 2017. Amelie Mauresmo filed for divorce from Hurel in 2023 and was embroiled in a legal battle with her.
Mauresmo has not strayed too far from tennis after retirement
Since Mauresmo hung up her racket, she ventured into coaching. In 2014, she took Andy Murray under her tutelage, becoming the first woman to coach an ATP elite. Under her watchful eye, Murray made it to the finals of the Australian Open in 2015.
It turned out to be a controversial move, and so much criticism poured in that even Murray had to defend her. The former world No. 1 was all praise for Amelie, highlighting her qualities as a coach.
For all her exploits, Muaresmo was inducted into the Tennis Hall of Fame in 2015. Her legacy does not end here, as she became the director of the French Open in 2021.
Amelie Mauresmo has been a trailblazer for women. She has inspired a generation to be fearless in their identities and in how they play. Mauresmo continues to be a beacon of hope for many and paves the way for players to come after her.