Retiring Tauziat Still a Fiery Competitor

Nathalie Tauziat cursed, broke her racket, then easily won 10 of the final 13 points.

It happened during her unpredictable 6-0, 0-6, 6-2 victory Thursday over Jelena Dokic of Yugoslavia in the Estyle.com Classic.

After hitting a deep backhand return during the sixth game of the third set, France’s Tauziat threw her temper tantrum. She walked slowly to her seat and grabbed a new racket before settling down.

Call it a “mature” response from the 17-year veteran.

Tauziat, 33, turned professional in the early days of Nintendo, cable television and compact discs. She participated in her first Grand Slam tournament when Dokic was a year old. She has played against Martina Navratilova, Chris Evert and Hana Mandlikova.

So it’s not surprising the younger players tease the tour’s elder stateswoman. Martina Hingis calls her “Professor,” while others refer to Tauziat as “Grandma.”

Come next year, Tauziat will not have to deal with the good-natured nicknames anymore.

A few months ago, Tauziat announced she would retire after the 2001 season.

But her imminent departure doesn’t mean she is on a Cal Ripken-esque farewell tour.

“I don’t want to go on the court and say I’m just going to win two matches and go home,” Tauziat said. “I have respect for my sport.”

Tauziat, one of the tour’s few serve-and-volley players, has played her best tennis the past few years. She entered the top 10 for the first time in 1998 after losing the Wimbledon final to Jana Novotna, reached a career-high ranking (third) last year and is currently ninth in the world.

This year, she won the grass-court event in Birmingham, England, lost to Hingis in the final of the Dubai tournament and advanced to the semifinals in two other events.

“It’s very hard to see where she’s going to serve; she’s very steady and she has good volleys,” said Belgium’s Kim Clijsters, who faces Tauziat in today’s quarterfinals. “We all have to admire Nathalie and what she’s done for women’s tennis.”

Tauziat does not have any definite post-retirement plans. She might coach, do some television broadcasting or help with the French Tennis Federation.

But she won’t work too hard.

“I just want to be home,” Tauziat said, “and have a normal life.”

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

Featured Matches

Starting at 11 a.m.

* Nathalie Tauziat, France vs. Kim Clijsters, Belgium

* Martina Hingis, Switzerland vs. Amy Frazier

* Elena Dementieva, Russia vs. Lindsay Davenport.

7 p.m.

* Serena Williams vs. Monica Seles