Tauziat is ready for final tilt

Mark Staniforth
Friday 15 June 2001 00:00 BST
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Nathalie Tauziat is preparing a final quest for an elusive Grand Slam title after sweeping into the quarter-finals of the DFS Classic here.

The 33-year-old Frenchwoman ended the run of the American Alexandra Stevenson 6-3, 6-3 in her 15th and last appearance at the Birmingham club where she has been made an honorary life member.

Tauziat, who has reached six Grand Slam quarter-finals but only once progressed further ­ at Wimbledon in 1999 when she was beaten in the final by Jana Novotna ­ has vowed to retire from the main tour at the end of the season.

The world No 8 insists she is not losing any sleep over the lack of a major trophy from her cupboard, but her focus yesterday suggested she is intent on hitting the headlines on her final All England Club appearance in a fortnight's time. "I'm just pleased to be playing at 33 and to still go out and win," Tauziat said. "I've played well at Wimbledon before and I know I can play well on grass." Tauziat was joined in the last eight by the defending champion, Lisa Raymond, who overcame the Russian Anastasia Myskina 1-6, 6-2, 7-6.

Tauziat's majestic ground-strokes and unerring accuracy were too much for Stevenson's spluttering power game. She negated her opponent's serve with the quality of her returning to secure a quarter-final meeting with Anne Kremer, conqueror of the last remaining Briton, Lucie Ahl, 6-3 6-0.

Ahl, playing the third round of a WTA Tour event for the first time, was easily beaten by the woman from Luxembourg, ranked No 31 in the world.

Ahl said: "I learnt a lot this week and certainly today which I'll take into next week at Eastbourne. I've competed in three matches and won two against players I want to be playing against. It's been a good week but I'm not satisfied with it."

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