January 2015 ~ InulPoker Running

Wednesday, January 28, 2015

Murray beats Dimitrov in epic

By Piers Newbery BBC Sport at Melbourne Park Murray wins last five games to progress Dimitrov defeated after 3 hours and 32 minutes The Briton faces Australia's Kyrgios in last eight Murray reaches his 16th straight Slam quarter-final Andy Murray won a gruelling late-night contest with Grigor Dimitrov to reach his sixth consecutive Australian Open quarter-final.

The British number one came through 6-4 6-7 (5-7) 6-3 7-5 in three hours and 32 minutes.

A fifth set had looked likely but Murray won the last five games in row, sealing victory with a forehand that clipped the net and dropped over.

He goes through to face Australia's Nick Kyrgios in the last eight.

Murray will be playing in his 16th consecutive Grand Slam quarter-final, having lost to Dimitrov at the same stage at Wimbledon last year.

Kyrgios made his first and only major quarter-final to date at the same tournament after a stunning win over Rafael Nadal.

The 19-year-old won a five-set thriller against Andreas Seppi on Sunday that dominated Melbourne Park to such an extent that the cheering from Hisense Arena could be heard on Rod Laver Arena.

"The nine games out of 11 Murray won in response to Dimitrov's barnstorming start was almost as good as it gets, and even though the match should not have spilled over into Australia Day, Murray has now convinced judges like Goran Ivanisevic that he can reach at least the final.

"Dimitrov played very well until collapsing under some late fourth set pressure, but Murray was able to carve out break points almost at will throughout the match.

"He will need to take more of those opportunities in the days to come, but he does now look like a genuine Grand Slam contender once again."

When the result was clear and the home favourite had won, Murray and Dimitrov were forced to wait until the excitement subsided.

By that point Murray had already taken the first set from 3-0 down, seizing control after a blistering opening from the Bulgarian 10th seed.

The Scot, 27, was returning superbly and creating chance after chance on the Dimitrov serve, twice going a break clear in the second set only to hand the advantage back.

An increasingly tentative Murray failed to serve out the set at 6-5, double-faulting on break point, and was on the back foot in the ensuing tie-break.

Dimitrov, 23, surged forward, moving 4-2 in front with a stunning backhand pass that had the crowd on their feet, and converting his third set point.

With the match back in the balance, it was Murray who took control in the third only for his frustration to grow as break points passed him by.

Umpire Jake Garner felt the full force of Murray's temper when the official failed to spot what appeared to be a double bounce, but Murray regained his composure to break for a 5-3 lead.

The set soon followed only for Dimitrov to respond once again, breaking early in the fourth with a fizzing backhand pass that crumpled Murray's attempt at a volley.

At 5-2 down, even Murray must have been thinking about a decider, but he saved a set point with a heavy forehand and watched as Dimitrov handed over his advantage.

Three forehand errors gave up the break at 5-3, and a disastrous 11th game saw the Bulgarian drop serve to love before violently breaking his racquet in two after Murray swatted away a return winner.

A match of such fluctuating fortunes hinted at another swing when Murray was pegged back to 30-30 while serving for the match, but the sixth seed saw out the next two points to keep his title hopes on track.

"I thought I played well," said Murray. "I thought Grigor started the match extremely well. He came out very aggressive, very explosive.

"But it's tough to keep that sort of level of intensity up. And then once I got myself into the match, I felt like I was able to dictate a lot of the points. I thought tactically I played a good match."

Dimitrov said: "If you lose, you obviously haven't done some things right. I'm happy that I competed at a good level and it takes a player like Andy to beat me like that.

"I'm just disappointed because it's not the result that I wanted. For sure I could have done some things better."

Gregor Dimitrov smashed his racquet after losing the break in the penultimate game of the final set

Murray will be hoping his fans can create some noise inside a partisan Rod Laver Arena where he faces Nick Kyrgios on Tuesday

Smith would have 'slapped' twirl man

England striker Kelly Smith says she would have "slapped" the on-court interviewer who asked tennis player Eugenie Bouchard to twirl at the Australian Open.

Smith, who has won 117 caps, felt the request was "arrogance or stupidity".

The 36-year-old Arsenal player said: "If I was [asked], I would probably have slapped him around the face."

Smith said the episode - dubbed 'twirl-gate' - was "an insult to women's sport".

Bouchard not offended by 'twirl' comments

She added: "It shows there still is that ignorance when it comes to women's sport and that transfers to kids today - people think it is still OK to say things like that."

Twelve-time Grand Slam singles champion Billie Jean King led the criticism after Canadian Bouchard and American Serena Williams were both asked to show off their outfits after winning their second round matches last week.

King said the request was "truly sexist".

Bouchard, 20, said she was fine with the request as long as male players were asked to "flex their muscles".

Smith, speaking at the launch of the Women's Sport Trust's #BeAGameChanger Awards, added: "The more we raise the profile of women's sport through awards such as these, the bigger the chance of knocking that behaviour and ignorance out of sport and society in general."

How to get into Tennis

The simple pleasures of whacking a yellow ball over a net are not to be underestimated! It's addictive.

'Anyone for tennis?' goes the famous phrase. And yes, anyone capable of holding a racquet can play.

Schemes such as 'Tennis for Free' have made it much more affordable.

What if I want a proper workout?

The top players in the world really revel in the frenetic, stop-start exertion - and so can you.

Can I take it to another level?

If you have real talent, you will get noticed - top-class Brits have been hard to come by (bar Andy Murray).

Wheelchair tennis is really growing. And Britain has its very own Grand Slam winner in Jordanne Whiley.

Doubles matches (two versus two) are a good way for families to play together at the same time.

When Wimbledon arrives each summer, tennis captivates the nation for two weeks. But that's not the full story - Brits of all ages are switched on all year round, with nearly a million swishing their rackets once a month. It's not hard to see why. It's fun, accessible across a vast range of fitness levels and abilities, and not as elitist as some might believe. The Lawn Tennis Association is a great place to start for any information on playing tennis in Britain, or browse the Ulster Tennis, Tennis Scotland, Tennis Wales or Tennis England sites for specific news in your area.

If you've never had the joy of pretending to get seriously angry about whether the ball is in or out, a la John McEnroe, there are more than 500 venues across the UK where you can try tennis for free. Explore the Lawn Tennis Association's Allplay scheme for guidance on places to play and, should you catch the bug, people to play against and coaches to train you. For those starting out, a good quality second-hand racket can be bought for reasonably low cost. They are also available for hire, as are balls. Don't forget! The British weather can be notoriously unkind, but there are many options to play indoors: this is how the tennis season keeps going right throughout the year.

Competition is totally redundant in cardio tennis - it's all about the camaraderie to be found in exercising while having a good time, and bringing a big smile to your face. The main aim of these light-hearted, sociable group fitness classes is to get your heart pumping and your wellbeing soaring. You may have a racket in your hand, but you'll all be on the same side of the net, cheering each other on as the calories burn away.

Mini tennis is perfect to coach in small spaces

The adult world of tennis must be daunting if you can hardly see over the net! For kids, mini tennis is the answer. Children between three and 10 years old can now get stuck in with the aid of smaller courts, smaller nets, smaller rackets and lower bouncing balls. Everybody in this age range is catered for - there are four 'stages' of LTA Mini Tennis: Tots, Red, Orange and Green, each with their own court size and type of ball. This tailored approach enables players to develop vital skills and techniques at an early age.

"I broke my leg 26 times" - Jordanne Whiley

An impressive range of adaptations are on offer for disabled people to play tennis, which can help build social skills, self-esteem and independence, as well as boosting fitness and coordination. Wheelchair tennis integrates easily with the non-disabled game since it can be played on any regular tennis court, with no modifications to rackets or balls. The Tennis Foundation is the place to start: they cater for and champion wheelchair tennis, and also offer subsidised camps featuring learning disability, deaf, and visually-impaired tennis.

Wimbledon's outreach scheme that changes lives

Coaches and volunteers are vital for every sport, and tennis is is no real difference. Coaches are particularly important in taking tennis into more deprived areas. You can coach tennis sessions yourself by taking a 'Tennis Activator' course, a simple half-day workshop where you can learn basic organisation and delivery skills. Email for more details. You can also try Sports Coach UK for coaching opportunities.

Volunteers provide a huge contribution to British tennis every single day, and there are a wealth of opportunities cultivated by the LTA. Find out about volunteering opportunities in Scotland, Wales, England and Northern Ireland. Join In UK can also help you find a club that needs your hands on attention.

1. Go to our Activity Finder to get into tennis near you.

2. Or find your local club in England, Scotland, Northern Ireland or Wales.

3. Share your story and inspire others.

Are you inspired to try tennis? Or maybe you are a keen enthusiast already? Get in touch and tell us your experience of the activity by tweeting us on @bbcgetinspired, visiting us on Facebook or email us on getinspired@bbc.co.uk.

See our full list of activity guides for more inspiration.

The 'Wild Thing' thrilling Melbourne

By Piers Newbery BBC Sport at Melbourne Park

Dates: Tuesday, 27 January Court: Rod Laver Arena Time: 08:15 GMT

Coverage: Live commentary on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra and live text commentary on the BBC Sport website.

Six months after pulling off a between-the-legs winner against Rafael Nadal on Centre Court, Nick Kyrgios has spent the last week reminding the world that he is something special.

The 19-year-old from Canberra has electrified this year's Australian Open and still has hopes of ending the nation's 39-year wait for a male champion.

British number one Andy Murray will have something to say about that when the pair meet on Tuesday (08:15 GMT) in a quarter-final that will be prime-time viewing across Australia.

"I would say maybe he's more confident than I would have been at that age," said Murray.

Nick Kyrgios hits between-the-legs winner against Rafael Nadal

"I didn't feel like I was going to win these events when I was that age, but I read that he felt like he could win the Australian Open this year a few weeks ago. So he obviously backs himself a lot."

That is putting it mildly. Asked how confident he was of beating Murray, the teenager responded: "I definitely believe that I can do it."

John McEnroe compared Kyrgios to Boris Becker after last summer's stunning win over Nadal at Wimbledon, and later in the year had him down as a top-five player; Goran Ivanisevic says top 10 for sure; Pat Cash believes he is "the real deal".

It is easy to forget that Kyrgios is ranked 53rd in the world and has won just one match on the ATP Tour, with those Grand Slam ranking points backed up by wins on the lower Challenger Tour. He is a man for the big stage.

Dubbed "Wild Thing" by the host broadcaster, Kyrgios has lived up to the nickname at the Australian Open even if he doesn't much care for it.

Kyrgios is the son of a Greek father and Malaysian mother

Full name is Nicholas Hilmy Kyrgios

Kyrgios is a Tottenham Hotspur and Boston Celtics fan

He wore a purple suit when awarded 2014 Newcombe Medal for outstanding Australian player

He won the boys' title two years ago and was junior world number one

Smashed racquets, audible obscenities, conversations with the crowd, "cocky" on-court interviews, all among a blizzard of winners and aces - it has been impossible to take your eyes off him at Melbourne Park.

"I'm pretty emotional," he said. "I'm just learning every day how to contain that."

Away from the court he appears to be just as extrovert, although hardly wild, and regularly interacts with other players - including Murray - on social media, or can be seen high-fiving other young Aussie hopefuls in the corridors around Melbourne Park.

Tennis Australia will point to the structural changes they have made in recent years, but they surely cannot believe their luck.

Nick Kyrgios made a name for himself when he beat Rafael Nadal at Wimbledon last year

Kyrgios has emerged along with his good friend Thanasi Kokkinakis, a year younger at 18, the brilliant and apparently now more stable Bernard Tomic, and a growing base of male players that now numbers 12 in the top 200.

Bu in a country where talents such as Mark Philippoussis, Lleyton Hewitt and Tomic have all endured up-and down relationships with their public, there is plenty of caution too.

"I think the public is genuinely really wanting to like him, because like everyone we like winners," said Courtney Walsh, chief tennis writer for The Australian.

"But there is that history; even Cash was a young abrasive bloke, Hewitt put some people off initially, Philippoussis too. With Nick, I think people are still trying to figure out whether they should fully embrace him."

Pat Rafter is a former Australian great who has followed the federation route as Davis Cup captain and, from next month, director of performance for Tennis Australia.

The two-time US Open champion remains guarded, saying: "We can't get ahead of ourselves.

"I think sometimes they can get a little bit affected by a lot of hype and media. That's why we want to keep it very level. There probably are some players who get more attention than others."

"For Australian audiences it's an extraordinary opportunity to watch a 19-year-old take on a Wimbledon champion. Our ratings in the fourth-round match hit 2.7m, which is an extraordinary number here for Australian viewers. If this match can get going that audience will be even bigger.

"Nick recovered well on Monday and looked pretty fresh and bouncy. I think the adrenaline will be so high that physically he will be alright. I think it's more down to the tennis aspect because Andy is so smart and experienced. He will make the youngster work hard, push him round the court, make the points longer and really test whether he is fit or not."

Kyrgios did not exactly buy in to that strategy when it was put to him last week, admitting: "I don't know what to say to that. He has his own opinion."

Former Wimbledon champion Cash has already questioned the wisdom of trying to shackle such an outrageous talent.

Todd Woodbridge, a nine-times Wimbledon doubles champion, was involved with the junior development of Kyrgios and had the unenviable task of trying to pin his feet to the floor.

"He has been spoken to and he has had all those discussions before, but the thing with Nick is that he has that X-Factor," said Woodbridge.

"When he's out on court, he's in the heat of the moment and not thinking about that. He's young, he's exuberant, and he's going to make mistakes. We're going to see him mess up occasionally. As he matures he will get better at that.

"Let's remember he's a teenager thrust in front of millions of viewers around the world, and that's not that easy to handle."

Kyrgios has certainly had his moments on court, picking up a £2,600 fine for both racquet and verbal abuse in his first-round match last week, but his mother at least has suggested it is all a reaction to his innate shyness.

That might be a stretch, but he is close to his family and last year relocated from Melbourne to his native Canberra to be nearer home when in Australia, as well as to reunite with Todd Larkham, his childhood coach of seven years.

"He's a smart kid with a good team around him," added Walsh.

"He always has a family member travelling with him. His sister was at Wimbledon, his brother was in New York, his mum went to Malaysia at the end of the year, the family is all down here in Melbourne at the moment."

While his neon clothes, shaved eyebrows, glistening earring and brash talk might not be to everyone's taste quite yet, the 97 aces and 227 winners that have propelled him to a second Grand Slam quarter-final are winning people over fast.

At a loose end one evening last year, Kyrgios asked on Twitter whether there was "anything happening tonight in Melbourne", and reportedly ended up at a stranger's house playing video games and eating pizza.

With 100,000 followers and rising, on the front and back of every newspaper, and featuring in every TV news bulletin, he will not be short of offers the next time he puts out the call.

Kyrgios through in five-set thriller

By Piers Newbery BBC Sport at Melbourne Park Teenager Nick Kyrgios became the first home player for 10 years to reach the Australian Open men's quarter-finals with a five-set win over Andreas Seppi.

The 19-year-old saved a match point as he fought back to beat the Italian 5-7 4-6 6-3 7-6 (7-5) 8- 6 in a match that gripped Melbourne Park.

He faces Andy Murray in the last eight after the Briton beat Grigor Dimitrov.

"When I saw I had finally won the match it was incredible. It was the best feeling I ever had," said Kyrgios.

"It's crazy. I don't think it's sunk in yet."

Australian fortunes suffered earlier when Bernard Tomic was knocked out.

Bernard Tomic of Australia, right, walks past Tomas Berdych

Bernard Tomic, right, had little to smile about against Tomas Berdych

Seventh seed Tomas Berdych was too strong for Tomic, powering to a 6-2 7-6 (7-3) 6-2 win on Margaret Court Arena.

That heaped the pressure on Kyrios to keep home hopes alive on Hisense Arena, and he did so in the most dramatic style.

Seppi looked on course to back up his stunning win over Roger Federer in the previous round when he moved two sets clear, with a frustrated Kyrgios smashing his racquet at one point.

But with the home crowd behind him, the teenager from Canberra - who beat Rafael Nadal at Wimbledon lat summer - launched a stirring comeback.

After taking the third set, Kyrgios saved a match point on serve at 5-6 in the fourth and levelled with a drilled backhand winner in the tie-break.

He had struggled with a back injury in recent weeks but remained the dominant force as he surged into a 4-1 lead in the decider, only for Seppi to level with 12 straight points.

Teenager Kyrgios is building up a big following in Australia

The drama on Hisense was now dominating the whole of Melbourne Park, with the match on Rod Laver Arena between Murray and Dimitrov repeatedly interrupted by the cheering.

Kyrgios saved another break point at 4-4 and finally clinched victory after three hours and 34 minutes when Seppi sent a backhand wide.

"To know the body could come back from two sets to love, knowing I haven't had matches, it's just massive confidence," said Kyrgios.

"I think the turning point was definitely the break in the third set. That just established that I wasn't going to go away. I was just going to compete until the very end.

"When I got to the third set, I started playing really well. I knew if I could just hang on some way and take it to a fifth set, it's anyone's match."

Order of play for Australian Open

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Share this page print Order of play for Australian Open Australian Open | Melbourne, Australia Tuesday, 27 January 2015

Rod Laver Arena (00:00 UK start) Seed Player Player Seed Competition 10 Makarova (Rus) v Halep (Rom) 3 Women's Singles 7 Bouchard (Can) v Sharapova (Rus) 2 Women's Singles 7 Berdych (Cze) v Nadal (Spa) 3 Men's Singles 6 Murray (GB) v Kyrgios (Aus) Men's Singles Klepac (Slo)Guccione (Aus) v Dellacqua (Aus)Peers (Aus) Mixed Doubles Margaret Court Arena (00:00 UK start) Seed Player Player Seed Competition Herbert (Fra)Mahut (Fra) v Benneteau (Fra)Roger-Vasselin (Fra) 2 Men's Doubles 16 Goerges (Ger)Groenefeld (Ger) v Bertens (Ned)Larsson (Swe) Women's Doubles Jans (Pol)Klepac (Slo) v Chan (Tpe)Zheng (Chn) 14 Women's Doubles 3 Mladenovic (Fra)Nestor (Can) v Krajicek (Ned)Mergea (Rom) Mixed Doubles Show Court 2 (00:00 UK start) Seed Player Player Seed Competition 5 Kops-Jones (US)Spears (US) v Krajicek (Ned)Zahlavova-Strycova (Cze) 13 Women's Doubles Chan (Tpe)Murray (GB) v Hlavackova (Cze)Peya (Aut) 4 Mixed Doubles Lopez (Spa)Mirnyi (Blr) v Dodig (Cro)Melo (Brz) Men's Doubles 3 Makarova (Rus)Vesnina (Rus) v Mattek-Sands (US)Safarova (Cze) Women's Doubles Gavrilova (Rus)Saville (Aus) v Srebotnik (Slo)Melo (Brz) 2 Mixed Doubles Court 6 (00:00 UK start) Seed Player Player Seed Competition Court 7 (00:00 UK start) Seed Player Player Seed Competition Court 19 (00:00 UK start) Seed Player Player Seed Competition Court 20 (00:00 UK start) Seed Player Player Seed Competition Court 21 (00:00 UK start) Seed Player Player Seed Competition Court 22 (00:00 UK start) Seed Player Player Seed Competition ATP Heineken Open | Auckland, New Zealand Saturday, 17 January 2015

Center Court Seed Player Player Seed Competition Mannarino (Fra) v Vesely (Cze) Men's Singles ATP Medibank International | Sydney, Australia Saturday, 17 January 2015

Ken Rosewall Arena Seed Player Player Seed Competition Kukushkin (Kaz) v Troicki (Ser) Men's Singles Also related to this story Men's and women's singles draws 30 May 2013Tennis How to get into Tennis 02 Dec 2014Get Inspired Share this story Share this page print Top Picks Melbourne Park

Men's and women's singles draws 30 May 2013Tennis How to get into Tennis 02 Dec 2014Get Inspired Schedule and results Australian Open: 19 Jan - 1 Feb Scores | Results | Order of play | Official site

Live on the BBC

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Listen to audio Australian Open: Women's Final Tennis: Sat 31 Jan, 08:25 GMT, BBC Two

Listen to audio Australian Open: Women's Final Tennis: Sat 31 Jan, 08:30 GMT, BBC Radio 5 live sports extra

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Australian Open: 19 Jan-1 Feb Australian Open champion Stan Wawrinka

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Federer knocked out in Melbourne

Four-time champion Roger Federer is out of the Australian Open after being beaten in the third round by unheralded Italian Andreas Seppi.

The 33-year-old Swiss second seed went down 6-4 7-6 (7-5) 4-6 7-6 (7-5) to Seppi, who is ranked 46 in the world.

Seppi, 30, had never beaten the 17-time Grand Slam champion in 10 previous meetings and his win ends a 23-match losing streak against top 10 opponents.

"I just tried my best and it was one of my best matches for sure," said Seppi.

British number one Andy Murray is through to the last 16 but it is the first time since 2003 that Federer has failed to reach at least the semi-finals in Melbourne, and it extends his run without a Grand Slam title which stretches back to Wimbledon 2012.

Seppi will play Nick Kyrgios in the fourth round

"It was just a bad day," he said. "I wish I could have played better, but clearly it was tough losing the first two sets.

"I had chances to get back into it. I let it slip, both times in some ways. I guess I won the wrong points out there today."

Federer enjoyed a revival last year, vying with Novak Djokovic for the number one ranking, and began 2015 with his 83rd career title in Brisbane.

However, there had been signs in his previous match against another Italian, Simone Bolelli, that the Swiss was not at his best as he dropped the opening set.

Seppi, who is nicknamed Andy, speaks Italian, English and German

The Italian turned pro in 2002 and reached a career-high ranking of 18th in 2013

The world number 46's idol growing up was former world number one Yevgeny Kafelnikov

Seppi has won three ATP Tour titles - Moscow (2012), Belgrade (2012) and Eastbourne (2011)

Two points from defeat in game 10, Federer held on to force another tie-break and had two serves at 5-4, but lost them both to give Seppi a match point.

Faced with the biggest point of his career, Seppi came up with a spectacular running forehand pass to complete a stunning upset.

"I just tried to enjoy playing on centre court (Rod Laver Arena) because it's not often I get the chance," added the Italian.

"I was focusing on my service games as I was not getting many chances on his.

"The tie-break was great, especially the last point. I did not think I would get the ball. I thought it was a winner so I don't know how I hit a winner."

"Seppi held his nerve admirably in the fourth set, and his breathtaking running forehand winner on match point will be replayed for years to come. This was a Federer performance which conjured up memories of his back-related struggles of 2013, although tiredness is more likely to be a factor this time, as the family holiday was delayed until after the Australian Open

"Federer played a lot of matches in the second half of last year: winning the Davis Cup shortened an off-season which was devoted predominantly to practice, along with a brief diversion to Delhi to play in the International Premier Tennis League.."

Curse or myth - do periods affect performance?

Amelia Earhart is flying solo across the Pacific Ocean when something horrific happens. The American looks into the camera and screams "Oh no, my period!" before losing control of her aircraft and dropping into the ocean. Never to be seen again.

It did not happen in real life, of course, but is a scene in the American sitcom 30 Rock. And writer Tina Fey is not mocking Earhart's disappearance in 1937, which led to the first female aviator to fly solo across the Atlantic being declared dead 'in absentia', but is poking fun at the effect menstruation is perceived to have on women.

But has what many describe as 'the last taboo' now been broken?

Britain's number one tennis player Heather Watson blamed "girl things" on her first-round defeat at the Australian Open this week and ever since there has been non-stop chatter about monthly cycles, stomach cramps and their impact on professional athletes.

Are periods a problem for elite sportswomen? Does it affect performance? We talk to women's marathon record holder Paula Radcliffe, Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson, physiologist, Professor John Brewer, and gymnastics coach Helen Potter.

Radcliffe has called for more studies to be done on the impact of the menstrual cycle on performance

British middle-distance runner Jessica Judd says her running times can vary by 15 seconds depending on what stage she is at in her cycle.

"I ran 3000m at the national championships in 9 minutes 15 seconds and felt really tired," explains the 20-year-old. "One week later, at the Birmingham Grand Prix, I ran the same distance in nine minutes flat with no extra training. It's scary that it can affect you so much because it is the difference between first and last."

But not everyone suffers the same. On the morning of Sunday, 13 October, 2002, Paula Radcliffe's period started. Late and inconvenient. It was the day the Briton was to line up for the Chicago Marathon. It was the day she went on to break the world record.

"I tried to put it out of my head and not let it become an issue," recalls the former marathon world champion. "It's one of those things that can become a bigger issue if you let it.

"I broke the world record so it can't be that much of a hindrance, but undoubtedly that's why I had a cramped stomach in the final third of the race and didn't feel as comfortable as I could've done."

Former world badminton champion Gail Emms used to take the contraceptive pill to control when her period would occur, while Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson, the most successful athlete in Paralympic history, tried contraceptive injections to stop her periods.

Paula Radcliffe would take the pill for three weeks at the start of her season to change the timing of her periods, ensuring they did not fall during a major championship or a big race, but there isn't a one-pill-fits-all solution.

"I got light periods so I probably only got eight a year so it wasn't that much of a problem," explains Baroness Grey-Thompson.

Baroness Grey-Thompson describes taking contraceptives to control periods as a "pain in the neck"

"I didn't want to be on the pill because, depending on what you're on, it can cause problems with water retention. I did have injections twice to stop my periods, but you have to them every three months and if you're not in the right place to have them it can be a nightmare to try to balance."

Emms believes Watson should have been better organised: "As an athlete my body has to be in the best condition it can be to perform and if that means sorting out my period, it means sorting out my period."

But former British number one Anne Keothavong does not believe it is so easy for a tennis player to "meddle with Mother Nature".

"As a tennis player, there's a tournament going on virtually every week of the year, it's a long season," Keothavong reasons.

"The impact periods have on different athletes is an area which needs to be addressed," says Dr Richard Burden, senior physiologist at the English Institute of Sport. "In elite sport, the research in that area is quite limited."

Knowing Jessica Judd was due to be on her period on the day of the 800m heats at the World Championships in Moscow in 2013, doctors prescribed the then teenager with norethisterone, a hormonal tablet which delays menstruation.

"It was a horrible situation which taught me a lot," says Jessica Judd of Moscow 2013

The 18-year-old finished a disappointing fifth and failed to qualify for the semi-finals. A distraught Judd could be seen crying on the track. The medics "screwed up" says Paula Radcliffe.

"They gave her the wrong thing," explains Radcliffe. "I knew from experience that norethisterone made things a 100 times worse, Jo Pavey knew that, others knew that, but it seems that nobody within British Athletics had written that information down.

"They tried it because that's what medical science was saying you should do in that situation. After that I intervened and told them not to give it to Jess, or any other young athletes, and advised Jess on what I used to do.

"Doctors in sport are often men and they don't understand. You need more women who understand to give more evidence, have more studies done, because it's only a small group of elite sportswomen who have tried to do things to control their period."

British Athletics says it is addressing this, and has recently introduced a number of initiatives - although it admits improvements can still be made.

It told BBC Sport its medical staff were "very much aware of the added challenges concerning menstrual issues around performance athletes".

"Each case is looked at individually and it is the aim that any particular strategy is trialled well in advance of competition," it added.

How an athlete prepares for a big competition during her period can not only affect performance but relationships within a team.

"The girls would train together, you'd learn things from other girls," says Gail Emms.

It has been said that from first-century Rome to the 19th-century England, menstruation was thought to leave women periodically dangerous.

As late as 1878, the British Medical Journal printed the opinions of physicians who believed that menstruating women could cause bacon to become rancid.

"One girl I know, she didn't take medication but knew she was going to be on her period during a big competition and they ended up losing when they should have won and her partner, a male partner, is still fuming about something that happened years ago."

But not everyone finds it as easy to talk about such personal matters as Britain's elite badminton players. "I don't remember it being talked about in my sport," says Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson.

"I probably wouldn't have talked about this a couple of years ago, but it should be a massive challenge for sports to talk about it with teenage girls. How a young 13-year-old sportswoman handles it could encourage or discourage them from being sporty."

Women are likely to bleed for between 2,250 to 3,000-plus days across their lifetimes and a study in 2010 revealed girls were reaching puberty ever more prematurely, so why is menstruation not discussed in the majority of cultures?

"One of the things I was fascinated by was how many euphemisms there are about this topic, which is an indication of how much of a taboo it is," says Karen Houppert, author of The Curse: Confronting the Last Unmentionable Taboo, Menstruation.

Companies have been advertising tampons since the 1920s but it has always been done with discretion - never during the Super Bowl, or on the front pages of a newspaper.

"It's still narrowly advertised, and there are still veiled references to what's going on," adds Houppert.

"Watson said 'girl thing' which is vague. It could have been something else, but we presume it's her period. Periods are wrapped up in myth and magic and sexuality."

In 2009, Anne Keothavong became the first British woman in 16 years to be ranked inside the world's top 50 but hers was a career troubled by knee injuries sustained when she was menstruating.

"It does affect you, there's no doubt about it. I had ACL injuries on both knees and both times when I fell over it was that time of the month," says the 31-year-old.

Shannon McMillan #8 of the San Diego Spirit cries in pain after she twists her right knee

"There's an issue that you might be slightly prone to injury," says Professor John Brewer

"It does affect your co-ordination and every female athlete performing at a high level will be aware of that but it's not spoken about because, I guess, men don't want to hear about it and it's quite a personal thing.

"It's personal to every athlete and by no means should it ever be used as an excuse but, at the same time, it does have an effect."

John Brewer, professor of applied sport science at St Mary's University, says there is evidence to suggest women could be more susceptible to injury at different points of their monthly cycle.

"There's an issue that you might be slightly prone to injury because oestrogen is at peak level around the time of ovulation and that causes the tendons and ligaments to become lax and elastic," he explains.

In the Melbourne heat, Watson's head felt dizzy and her energy had been sapped. She had no fight left. But can menstruation ever really be blamed for a poor performance?

"There's no conclusive evidence that it has a massive impact on performance but, at the same time, anecdotal evidence would suggest if you lose a significant amount of iron and you become anaemic your endurance performance will suffer," explains Professor John Brewer.

Heather Watson suffered from dizziness, nausea and low energy levels at the Australian Open

"That aerobic fitness isn't just important in marathon-type sports, it's also an important component of sports like tennis, football and hockey, where you have to sustain a high work rate for quite a long period of time."

During her period a female athlete could suffer when conditions are hot and humid because hormonal imbalance can cause the body's core temperature to slightly rise. But there are solutions. Hydrating before and during exercise, and drinking sodium-based electrolyte drinks to make sure the fluid is absorbed, will lessen the impact of the heat.

"Because Heather Watson has alluded to it as one of the reasons why she didn't perform, there's a danger of it being blown out of proportion slightly," adds Dr Richard Burden. "It happens to all female athletes, but you don't often hear about the negative consequences of it."

Planning to conquer the sporting world requires more coaching nous than merely ensuring an athlete is physically ready to be faster, stronger and better than everyone else.

Helen Potter, coach of gymnast Claudia Fragapane who last summer became the most successful English gymnast at a Commonwealth Games for 84 years, believes a great coach is a communicator and empathiser, someone who can build an irrepressible mind. Only an athlete at ease with herself and her 'invisible troubles' has the bombast to flip and twist to glory.

"The mind is very important, people forget we're still animals," says Potter. "You do adapt your training depending on what part of the cycle your young gymnast is in, but they've got to learn to be able to cope with whatever time of the month it is.

"You have a training plan, a detailed plan of training cycles leading to major competitions but we are dealing with human beings, and emotional human beings, so you have to adapt in subtle ways, practice things which are tried and tested, rather than try something new."

Since Watson's revelation in Australia, many males and females have been seen shuffling uneasily in their seat, red of cheek, and uncertain of eye, at the mention of the female menstrual cycle.

But has discussing the subject helped gain a greater understanding of what women, and elite female sportswomen in particular, have to endure on a monthly basis?

"Her bringing it up is a double-edged sword," says Karen Houppert.

"Using it to explain a less than stellar performance can be a problem for women. Does it mean a female heart surgeon is less capable for one week a month?

"At the turn of the last century there were all sorts of reasons given why women should stay at home and part of that was the issue of menstruation.

"The positive is that she did raise the topic. It helps that a young girl mentions this is going on. It's good when it surfaces in conversation, otherwise it feels that part of your reality doesn't exist and to acknowledge its existence is a very good thing."

Tennis legacy concerns Jamie Murray

By Kheredine Idessane BBC Scotland at the Australian Open Jamie Murray has expressed his concern that there will be no legacy in Scotland when his brother, Andy, retires from top-class tennis.

The doubles specialist says such a scenario would be a "tragedy" because many youngsters would like to play.

"It's a big worry for me that Andy will stop playing in a few years and there will be nothing to show for it in Scotland," said the 28-year-old.

Tennis Scotland says it is "fully committed to growing the game".

The 2007 Wimbledon mixed doubles champion argues that a lack of facilities is hampering the chances of children in Scotland taking up the sport.

He told BBC Scotland in Melbourne: "A lot of kids want to become the next Andy Murray, they want to pick up a tennis racquet and learn to play a great game.

"I wish it was a lot easier for them to be able to do that.

"They need facilities and the right people in charge in the right places - passionate people that care about the game.

"That's a huge thing if you want to continue to grow the game."

Jamie Murray won his first round mixed doubles match with partner Taiwan's Hao-Ching Chan at the Australian Open and is through to the last 16 of the men's doubles with partner John Peers

When asked if he disputed that such an infrastructure was in place in his home country, Murray replied: "I'm not so sure, no, but that's my opinion.

"It would be a tragedy [if there was no legacy] because there is no history of Scotland producing any tennis players.

"They have produced one and there is a huge interest in the game now and I'm sure a lot more people want to play and hopefully they are able to do that, but it's difficult just now because the facilities are not there for starters."

Tennis Scotland states that since January 2012 it has invested £4.517m in 33 projects to develop outdoor facilities, about half of which was funded by the Scottish government agency sportscotland and the Lawn Tennis Association and the remainder by local authorities and other partners.

However, it says it is held back in its efforts to progress 12 indoor initiatives because it does not have the £11.3m those projects would require.

Jamie Murray's mother, Judy, has been a key figure in urging more Scottish youngsters to take up tennis

In a statement to BBC Scotland, Tennis Scotland said: "With an annual turnover in the region of £1.5m, Tennis Scotland alone simply does not have the funding needed to complete these projects and, unless other sources of monies are secured, only three or four of these projects are set to be completed over the next four-year period.

"It should be emphasised that Tennis Scotland's role is as a facilitator, not a funder.

"Nothing would please us more than to have significant additional indoor facilities but unless they are sustainable, and receive additional funding, they will not happen."

Responding to Murray's comments on developing young players, Tennis Scotland say that is "inexorably linked to the facilities situation".

It acknowledges that "those with exceptional talent will have to travel to obtain the required competition to take them to the next level".

It added: "Tennis Scotland is fully committed to growing the game and getting more people picking up a tennis racquet. This is evident from the 51% increase in the number of members of Scottish registered tennis venues over the past five years.

"We are extremely passionate about our sport and after Jamie expressed similar sentiments in November, we asked that he engage with ourselves to work more closely together going forward. However, to date, he has not taken up that offer."

Lapthorne secures Melbourne title

World number three Andy Lapthorne continued his warm-up for next week's Australian Open by winning the quad singles title at the Melbourne Open.

The 24-year-old Briton benefitted from the withdrawal of scheduled opponent Dylan Alcott of Australia.

"Finished as a winner - not the way I would have hoped with my opponent having to withdraw. Now ready for the big one," he tweeted.

There were also final wins for Lucy Shuker, Gordon Reid and Alfie Hewett.

Andy Lapthorne is targeting Grand Slam success at the Australian Open

Shuker and doubles partner Kgothatso Monjane of South Africa defeated the Dutch-German duo Marjolein Buis and Sabine Ellerbrock 6-4 7-6 (8-6).

It followed their win over the Grand Slam-winning pair of Jordanne Whiley and Yui Kamiji in the semi-finals.

Reid and Hewett clinched their second ITF Two men's doubles title in three weeks as they followed up their last-four win over top seeds Joachim Gerard and Maikel Scheffers with a 6-2 0-6 (10-3) victory over Brazil's Daniel Rodrigues and Australia's Ben Weekes.

Twirling 'OK' if men asked to 'flex'

Eugenie Bouchard says male players should be asked to "flex their muscles" after an interviewer at the Australian Open asked her to "give us a twirl".

Bouchard, 20, and Serena Williams were both asked to show off their outfits on court following second-round wins.

Twelve-time Grand Slam champion Billie Jean King has called the request from the male interviewer "truly sexist".

But Canadian Bouchard said: "I'm not offended. I'm fine with being asked to twirl if they ask the guys to flex."

She added: "I think it was an in-the-moment thing and it was funny."

The request drew criticism on social media, where King wrote: "The Australian Open interviewer asking the women to twirl on court is out of line.

"This is truly sexist. If you ask the women, you have to ask the guys."

"It's very dated language that I don't think has any place in a post-match tennis interview."

The 71-year-old, who won the Australian Open in 1968, added: "Let's focus on accomplishments of both genders and not our looks."

American world number one Williams was reluctant to describe the exchange with Tennis Australia commentator Ian Cohen as sexist despite the strong reaction.

"I wouldn't ask Rafa Nadal or Roger Federer to twirl. Whether it's sexist or not, I don't know. I can't answer that," said Williams, a second-round winner over Vera Zvonareva.

"I didn't really want to twirl because I don't need all the extra attention.

"Whether I twirl or not, it's not the end of the world. It's about being positive and just moving forward."

Bouchard, whose chat with Cohen followed her straight sets win over Kiki Bertens, was asked again about the issue following her third-round win over France's Caroline Garcia on Friday.

"They try to ask funny questions," she added.

"It's entertaining, I guess. I don't mind it. People can think what they want about it, but I just answer how I want and do what I want. I'm fine with it."

At last year's tournament in Melbourne, Bouchard was asked about dating US pop star Justin Bieber.

Life on the road - Kvitova's diary

Petra Kvitova won her second Wimbledon title last summer and ended 2014 with Fed Cup victory as part of the Czech Republic team. The world number four will give monthly updates throughout 2015 in an exclusive column for BBC Sport, which begins in Melbourne at the Australian Open.

It was great to start the new year with a title in Sydney but two hours later I was eating my dinner out of a box in the back of a car.

I think we finished around 10pm with the trophy ceremony, and then I saw my fitness coach and did a bit of bike and some stretching just to calm down a little bit.

Food-on-the-go was required after Friday night's victory in Sydney

Then it was a quick shower and an hour of press and photos, plus pictures with the tournament volunteers. I tried to eat a little bit in the car, chicken and pasta which my fitness coach Alex ordered for me - it was the last food on site because we finished so late, so I was lucky to get anything!

I got back to the hotel at about 11.30pm, had a little bit of treatment from Alex and went to sleep. I joked with my coach that I have to win the title to get a day off, but luckily I play on Tuesday in Melbourne. I needed to have a bit of a rest.

I don't sleep well when we are finishing so late. I think it was probably only an hour and a half but we had to be at the airport and with all the packing and unpacking, there's a lot to do.

From Melbourne airport we went to the hotel, had half an hour, and headed to Melbourne Park for the Australian Open media. So a busy 24 hours, but it's much easier when you've won a title.

I have no idea how many flights I caught last year but I've already managed four in 2015, and there are many, many more to come.

In the beginning I was so excited about all the travelling, but after a few years it's not quite so exciting any more.

I've always been a person who likes to take care of myself but there is so much to do behind the scenes, and I love to just focus on the tennis.

Living out of a bag, in hotels, packing, unpacking, travelling, the hours of flying, sometimes the credit card doesn't work at the hotel or the room isn't ready - I'm lucky to have a team around to help me.

The 2015 team of David Kotyza, Petra Kvitova and Alex Stober

Here at a Grand Slam I have my tennis coach, David, my fitness coach and physio, Alex, and my agent, Marijn, with me.

Alex used to work with Li Na and before that other great players like Pete Sampras and Andre Agassi, and I'm really glad he's part of my team now. I want to be fitter and quicker, to get to the ball faster, and he knows what I need to do.

He also understands our humour, so it's been easy for him to fit in. I knew Alex from the tournaments but not as well as we do now. He's a lot of fun and we laugh all day long.

OK, maybe not all day. When I'm tired I might not be quite so talkative but that's the same for anyone - if you're living with a husband or wife it can be the same!

Petra Kvitova's tour diary since 1 January: 10 press conferences, four planes, four contries, 10,969 miles travelled

We did everything we could in the off-season to prepare for the new year, and that included practising, practising and practising some more.

Alex pushed me hard and although I wouldn't say I hated him, there were certainly some exercises he found that I wasn't too happy with! But I know the tough ones can only make me better. I try to take them all on and not think 'I hate this, I won't do it.'

What is different this year is that Alex is both a fitness trainer and a physio, so I was able to have treatment every day after practice and matches.

I didn't have that before; I'd just finish the match, have a cool down and a stretch and that's it. Now I have treatment for two hours.

I watched a little bit of the Wimbledon final soon afterwards but it's already six months ago, time is flying!

For sure, it was one of the best matches that I ever played. I was in the zone and didn't think about anything but the shot in front of me. I was still worried, thinking 'you have to keep playing like this', but in the end I played a great match.

Wimbledon 2014 highlights: Kvitova cruises to final victory

If I had to choose between a third Wimbledon title and the number one ranking, I would choose Wimbledon. The ranking just shows how you're doing in the year, so I think the Slams are first and it shows in the number anyway.

I've been number two and I still hope to make number one. I was very close, I didn't make it, but I'm still alive! I hope that one day the time will come. It's one of my goals for the future, for sure.

Another Grand Slam title in Australia would help and I'm well prepared after Sydney. I know Li Na said I am the woman to beat but I wouldn't say I'm one of the big, big favourites. We'll see.

Petra Kvitova was talking to BBC Sport's Piers Newbery

Venus joins Serena in quarter-finals

Venus Williams overcame sixth seed Agnieszka Radwanska at the Australian Open to reach her first Grand Slam quarter-final since 2010.

The 34-year-old American, who suffers from Sjogren's syndrome, a disease that can cause fatigue, won 6-3 2-6 6-1.

The seven-time Grand Slam champion will face teenager and fellow American Madison Keys in the last eight.

Venus will play sister Serena, who beat Garbine Muguruza 2-6 6-3 6-2, in the semi-finals, if they both win again.

Serena Williams was in the crowd to watch sister Venus in action

Top seed Serena, who has not advanced past the quarter-finals at Melbourne Park since winning her last Australian Open title in 2010, had trouble breathing at times and coughed throughout her match against Muguruza.

She also struggled for form early on, but fought back to avenge her defeat by the Spaniard at last year's French Open.

"I had to play the best match of the tournament or else I was going to be out," said Serena, who next faces Slovakia's Dominika Cibulkova.

"She was just hitting winners like left and right. Every shot I hit, she basically hit a winner on. So I had to change my approach."

At 19 years of Madison Keys is 15 years younger than Venus, who won her first Grand Slam title, at Wimbledon in 2000, when Keys was just five.

"Apparently she started playing because she watched Serena and I," said Venus. "She was watching me in diapers."

Venus was pushed hard, too, losing the second set as her level dropped before regrouping and upping the power to clinch the decider.

Asked what had inspired her successful run in Melbourne, Venus said: "Definitely my sister Serena, she's just the ultimate champion.

"And definitely a lot of inspiration from all my fans who have stayed behind me through thick and thin."

Venus, whose best performance at the Australian Open is a runner-up finish in 2003, last reached the quarter-finals of a Grand Slam at the US Open in 2010.

Keys is relishing the prospect of facing one of her childhood heroes.

Keys saw off another American, Madison Brengle, to reach the last eight

"I'm just really excited. It's a huge opportunity for me," she said.

"I think Venus has helped the sport, especially the women's side with equal prize money. She was a huge part of that. Just watching her is inspirational.

"She's had her health battles but she loves tennis. She's still out there and she's doing it remarkably well. I hope I can be someone similar to that."

Should Venus beat Keys, she will progress to her 20th Grand Slam singles semi-final, with sister Serena a potential opponent.

The sisters last met at a Grand Slam in 2009, with Serena triumphing in the Wimbledon final in straight sets.

Serena leads the head-to-head 14-11, but Venus won their most recent encounter, which took place in Montreal last year.

It was the first time Venus Williams has beaten Agnieszka Radwanska since Miami in 2010, ending a run of three successive defeats

For the second successive match, Serena Williams bounced back from losing the first set to come through in three

How Melbourne made Amelie Mauresmo

Amelie Mauresmo has been coaching fellow two-time Grand Slam title winner Andy Murray since July 2014

Andy Murray trained with a heart-rate monitor strapped to his chest as he prepared for this week's Australian Open in Melbourne.

Amelie Mauresmo's stress levels, as she watched from the courtside shade, may have made equally interesting reading.

Murray's coach has already found herself on the sharp end of anonymous criticism after an unnamed former Grand Slam champion recently said the decision to appoint her was "unfathomable".

The Scot's form has been patchy under her guidance. After the wheels came off last year's defence of his Wimbledon crown, a creditable US Open showing was followed by an underwhelming performance at the World Tour Finals.

Murray, free now from the after-effects of back surgery, is a three-time finalist at the Australian Open. He has a tough draw but anything less than the quarter-finals this time and the voices questioning Mauresmo's suitability will intensify. Some might even put their name to their criticism.

The Frenchwoman, 35, could soon find herself sharing a players' box with Dani Vallverdu - part of Murray's team as he chased down two Grand Slam titles, but now installed with rival Tomas Berdych after the Team Murray atmosphere turned sour following Mauresmo's appointment in July 2014.

But Mauresmo is well versed in controversy, animosity and pressure at the season-opening Grand Slam. Her experience in Melbourne 16 years ago was pivotal in shaping public perceptions of her, while a belated title in 2006 brought a career landmark of contrasting emotions.

Mauresmo won the junior versions of both the French Open and Wimbledon in 1996

Mauresmo arrived at the Australian Open in 1999 as an unseeded 19-year-old. She left as perhaps the most talked about sportswoman on the planet.

Her tennis was just part of it.

Australian Nicole Pratt, whom she beat 6-3 6-3 in the third round, recalls Mauresmo's "single-handed backhand that opened up the court".

Belgian Dominique Monami, then ranked 11 in the world, was undone 6-3 7-6 (7-3) in the quarter-finals. "She was using a lot of spin that was making the ball very heavy when you received it," Monami recalled.

Mauresmo's mix of touch and guile, together with a reinforced serve, then sensationally overhauled world number one Lindsay Davenport in their semi-final.

But it was her subsequent announcement that she was gay and travelling on tour with partner Sylvie Bourdon that propelled her off the back pages and into wider public consciousness.

As she prepared for her first Grand Slam final, it was another leap into the unknown.

Tennis greats Billie Jean King and Martina Navratilova, both far bigger names than Mauresmo, had seen sponsors flee when they spoke about their sexuality in 1981.

"It was pretty courageous, especially on that occasion, moving into the final of a Grand Slam," Pratt remembered. "In the locker room it wasn't a secret to the players. I think that it was just potentially something that was holding her back. She couldn't be who she really wanted to be in the public eye.

"It was a massive story in Australia - there were people who were positive and there were negative responses as well."

Davenport saying she thought she had been "playing a guy" against Mauresmo was neither.

Clumsy rather than catty, the American had been talking about Mauresmo's tennis rather than her newly-publicised personal life. She sent Mauresmo a note explaining and apologising the next day.

The observation from Martina Hingis that Mauresmo was "half a man" was less easy to forgive.

"Really stupid" was Mauresmo's public response as coverage of her win over Davenport was overshadowed by Hingis's insult and their forthcoming meeting in the final.

Amelie Mauresmo and Martina Hingis at the trophy presentation of the 1999 Australian Open

Mauresmo and Hingis ended their careers with a 7-7 head-to-head record

She said Hingis's words were the last thing on her mind when she stepped out on the Rod Laver Arena, but she was well beaten, slipping to a 6-2 6-3 defeat in the final.

Mauresmo left the tournament saying she wanted to concentrate on tennis, but the effects of her announcement were never going to be shaken off so easily.

"A couple of weeks later there was a tournament in Paris and Paris Match had on their front page a picture of Amelie and her girlfriend kissing. It was huge," explains Monami.

"There were plenty of gay players at that time, but most of the time it was something that was kept quiet on the tour.

"When she said she was gay, the attention brought an extra dimension. It was not only about sport, it was about human relations."

On her return to France, Mauresmo was the big-name guest on prime-time television news. French Prime Minister Lionel Jospin invited her and Bourdon to a reception to celebrate International Women's Day.

The following year, she competed for France at the Sydney Olympics, but only after the national Olympic committee ceded to her and her team-mates' request not to select Natalie Tauziat, who had criticised Mauresmo and Bourdon's relationship in a book.

Hingis was not allowed to forget her part in Mauresmo's coming-out either.

She was hissed and jeered as she lost to Mauresmo in Paris four weeks after the Australian Open. She was given the same treatment again in that year's French Open final as her game disintegrated in defeat by Steffi Graf.

Amelie Mauresmo at the 2006 Australian Open

Mauresmo had become world number one in September 2004 but a Grand Slam still eluded her

Seven years later, Mauresmo was back in Melbourne, and still waiting.

She had been in three Wimbledon semi-finals and one at the US Open since, but it seemed a second Grand Slam final appearance, and the big-match mentality needed to secure it, might be beyond her.

"She was very frustrated and disappointed after those defeats," her then-coach Loic Courteau told BBC Sport. "But the goal when she appointed me in 2002 was to be number one and win a Grand Slam. The journey was not finished. She had plenty of time to do it.

"She won the WTA Championship at the end of 2005 and it was something big for her to beat all the top girls there. It wasn't a Grand Slam, but it was a big one and she arrived in Melbourne with the confidence she had been looking for all these years."

Mauresmo rode that wave in style. After losing the first set in her opening match, she didn't drop another until the semi-finals.

There, a tight match against Kim Clijsters went her way as the Belgian turned her ankle and retired in the deciding set.

Amelie Mauresmo consoles Justine Henin after the Belgian's retirement from the Australian Open final in 2006

The manner of Mauresmo's final victory over Henin (right) meant she "couldn't feel the emotion of winning her first Grand Slam"

Justine Henin, trailing 6-1 2-0, then dropped out of their final, blaming, alternately, "no energy" when on court, and then a stomach upset, for her failure to see the match out.

Mauresmo had her first Grand Slam title, but as she settled down to celebratory food and wine at the France Soir restaurant in swish South Yarra, there was something missing.

"In the final against Henin, Amelie was destroying her, 6-1 2-0. There was no match," Courteau said. "But she was very disappointed not to play the final point.

"In the final of a Grand Slam, you have to respect the opponent. Even if you are a little sick, if you don't have a big injury you have to finish the match - to stop for a bad stomach is not possible.

"She couldn't feel the emotion of winning her first Grand Slam and that was terrible for her."

Six months later, steeled by the memory of what she was denied in Melbourne, Mauresmo beat Henin again. This time in the Wimbledon final. This time, on court rather than at the umpire's chair. This time a Grand Slam champion without the asterisk.

"That was extra sweet. It was a kind of revenge for Amelie," Courteau added. "She wanted so badly to win this match and to win it normally and finish the match."

Amelie Mauresmo with Andy Murray, Matt Little

Mauresmo makes a point during practice with Murray (far right) and his conditioning coach Matt Little

There have been recent discussions with Courteau about joining Team Murray.

The 51-year-old is currently employed by world number 25 Julien Benneteau, but has described the prospect of working with Murray as "fabulous".

His possible recruitment is unlikely to be Mauresmo panicking as she finds herself in sole control of Murray's career.

She may have phoned her old coach to get his thoughts on Murray's game before taking on the job last summer, but he cannot offer the Scot the same 'been there, done it' experience as Mauresmo.

The hulking weight of public expectation at a home Grand Slam, the questions over temperament, the eagerness of others to offer an opinion on your personality - she has experienced them all.

Off the court, while tee-total Murray does not have his coach's passion for expensive white wine, they both share a love of games - fantasy football for him, French card game Belote for her - an interest in politics and a keen sense of humour.

It will be the results rather than their relationship that decides their future together.

"Amelie is a little more relaxed now than when we met in 1999," says Pratt, who still bumps into her old opponent as a coach with Tennis Australia - most recently at September's US Open.

"There is pressure that comes with coaching, but it is nowhere near what you experience when you are a player, especially someone like her."

Down under, but not down or under pressure then. After her own experiences in Melbourne, Mauresmo can deal with whatever the next fortnight brings.

Melbourne ready for tennis returns

19 January 2015 Last updated at 21:44 By Katie Beck BBC News, Melbourne What impact does the Australian Open have on Melbourne's economy?

The temperature is 40C in Melbourne, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal are sporting matching headbands, and every hotel in the city is booked.

It can only mean one thing: the Australian Open tennis tournament is finally here and under way.

The Open is arguably the biggest annual sporting event in the southern hemisphere.

Hundreds of thousands are in Melbourne to watch the matches during these next two weeks, while hundreds of millions more will watch the action on TV... and that means big business.

As the first of the four annual international tennis Grand Slam tournaments, the event attracts fans from across the globe, with nearly 700,000 tickets sold.

Long-term future

Melbourne's contract to host the Australian Open was due to expire in 2016, but a pledge of a three-stage upgrade package to its sporting precinct - with a price tag of close to A$1bn ($822m; £540m) - has secured the event for the city until 2036.

The first stage of renovations has just been competed, including 1,500 additional stadium seats and a fully retractable roof for the Margaret Court Arena.

Stanislas Wawrinka of Switzerland serves in the 2014 men's final

The Australian Open will be held in Melbourne for two more decades at least

Three of the principal courts now have such roofs.

These additions should avoid the stoppage of play due to extreme weather, which was an issue last year when players were complaining of heat exhaustion.

It was so hot, shoes were melting and sticking to the courts.

Stage two will involve upgrades to Rod Laver Arena and a pedestrian path connecting Melbourne Park to the train station.

'Icing on the cake'

Craig Tiley, chief executive of Tennis Australia, says the return on this hefty infrastructure investment will more than pay for itself.

"It's estimated that the Australian Open earns the State of Victoria over 200 million [Australian dollars] annually," says Mr Tiley.

The hospitality industry in Melbourne should be boosted by the visitor influx

"If you take that over the next 30 years with the investment of over 900 million [Australian dollars] that's going to be made, it's going to more than return on that investment within a few years and the rest will really just be icing on the cake."

But Larry Dwyer, professor of economics and tourism at the University of New South Wales says it is a more complicated picture.

He warns that the economic benefits of large-scale events are often oversold, and says it is important to look at all the possible costs involved.

"There will be social costs. There will be environmental costs. Traffic congestion, closed streets because of an event, discomfort for residents. It might be noise; there's lots of community costs incurred from events," says Prof Dwyer.

Professor Larry Dwyer says there can be a downside to top sports events

He says there can be an environmental cost, too, when a large number of spectators are gathered in one area, as is the case for the tennis, including issues such as a larger carbon footprint associated with event travel and transport.

But for the city's hospitality industry, the financial benefits surrounding the event are very clear.

About 40% of the fans that attend the tennis are from overseas or other Australian states, and together they account for nearly half a million hotel nights across Victoria state.

Next-generation tennis

And the business gains go far beyond accommodation.

Melbourne likes to think of itself as the sporting capital of the nation, and enthusiasm for tennis reaches a fever pitch in January.

The Australian Open tennis is having an influential effect on youngsters taking up the sport

Proximity to the players and wide media coverage of the matches excites die-hard tennis fans and piques the interest of new ones.

Michael Baroch runs the Melbourne International Tennis School (MITS), with campuses in both Melbourne and Singapore.

He says being near the tournament is great for business.

"We can send our kids to actually go and watch the best players in the world and look at their favourite players - and how they play tactically, technically, and even mentally," he says.

The Australian Open is the crown jewel in Melbourne's calendar of sports events

"So it's really advantageous to us in particular for the Australian Open to be here in Melbourne."

Marc Sophoulis, one of the coaches at MITS, who is working with a number of players competing in the Grand Slam this year, says the prestige of the event is alluring to other students.

"It does create a bit of buzz having three or four players from the Australian Open training among our players," he says. "We see players increasing their work loads on court and approaching us for more hours of lessons."

'Universal language'

Meanwhile, other companies are getting creative in their pursuits of the tennis dollar.

It is possible to cruise to the Melbourne event from Sydney

Australia's P&O Cruises have launched a customised Australian Open Cruise from Sydney to Melbourne for the tennis, which includes admission to the matches.

Tammy Marshall, senior vice president of the company, says that some 1,800 cruise passengers booked with them six months in advance.

And she says the venture brings in a lot of spending power to Melbourne, and a boost of A$1m to the Victorian economy.

"What we do understand from a recent economic study is that our guests are spending about A$146 per person per day in Melbourne when they are cruising," she adds.

John Eren, state minister for sport, recognises the impact of the event

The Australian Open is the crown jewel in Melbourne's impressive calendar of sports events, which John Eren, state minister for sport and tourism, says are crucial for the Victorian government.

"Right across the globe it's a universal language," he says. "Everybody loves their sport, and for us, sporting events are worth about 1.8 billion to the economy here in Victoria."

With another 30 years of hosting the event on the horizon, Melbourne has secured its position as a global tennis destination at least for the foreseeable future.

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