Amélie Mauresmo

Two Grand Slam titles in 2006 and one of the most complete games in women's tennis — Amélie Mauresmo's serve, volleying ability and athletic court coverage made her the most complete woman player of the mid-2000s. Her journey to those titles was complicated by the sport's treatment of her openness about her sexuality, which she handled with a dignity that made her a trailblazer. Later became the first woman to coach a leading men's player — guiding Andy Murray at a senior level — and was appointed Fed Cup captain for France, demonstrating a second career of leadership equal to her playing achievements.

Amélie Mauresmo was born in Saint-Germain-en-Laye, France in 1979 and turned professional in 1993, winning 2 Grand Slam singles titles — the Australian Open and Wimbledon in consecutive months in 2006 — and 25 WTA titles. She held the world number one ranking for 39 weeks. Her 2006 season — winning both Slams despite a reputation as an underachiever at the biggest moments — was the defining vindication of a career marked by talent and psychological difficulty under pressure. She won the WTA Finals in 2005 and was year-end number one in 2004. She came out as a lesbian in 1999 at the Australian Open — one of the most prominent athletes to come out publicly at the time — and faced significant prejudice from opponents and sections of the public during her career. She won Olympic silver at Athens in 2004. Her all-round game — powerful serve, excellent volley, versatile groundstrokes — made her effective on all surfaces. After retirement she coached Andy Murray from 2014 to 2016 — winning Wimbledon and the Australian Open together — becoming the first woman to coach a Grand Slam men's singles champion. She was later captain of the French Davis Cup team.

Mauresmo was known for her aggressive all-court game and powerful single-handed backhand. She possessed excellent court coverage and was comfortable playing both from the baseline and approaching the net. Her serve was particularly effective, and she had the ability to construct points tactically while also hitting winners from defensive positions.

Mauresmo paved the way for French tennis and became a respected figure in the sport both as a player and coach. She was one of the first openly gay athletes to achieve major success in professional tennis, helping to increase visibility and acceptance in the sport.

• Australian Open 2006
• Wimbledon 2006
• Olympic Silver 2004 (Athens)
• Year-end No.1 2004
• WTA Finals 2005
• First openly gay world No.1 tennis player