Mauresmo Nominated Sportswoman of the Year

The Sportswoman of the Year Award is presented annually to one individual and one team athlete whose performances during the preceding 12-month period have been exceptional. Criteria in the selection process include championships won, records set, and awards received. The 2006 awards consider achievements in the period between August 1, 2005, and July 31, 2006.

Among Mauresmo's stellar achievements during the aforementioned 12-month period are six Sony Ericsson WTA Tour singles titles, the quickest million in women's tennis history and a return to the world No.1 ranking.

Between November of last year and February of this year, Mauresmo went on an impressive tear, winning five of the six events she contested, including the 2005 season-ending Sony Ericsson Championships, her first Grand Slam title at the Australian Open and a pair of indoor events in Paris and Antwerp. By virtue of reaching the semis in Antwerp, she became the fastest woman in tennis history to earn $1 million in a season, beating Justine Henin-Hardenne's 2004 record by a whole month. On March 20, the Frenchwoman reascended to the No.1 ranking she had originally held for five weeks late in 2004; she has stayed on top ever since.

In July, she won her second and perhaps most prestigious major at Wimbledon. After a semifinal run at the US Open, the Frenchwoman reflected on her season.

"I am very proud of what I did this year. I wouldn't have expected this kind of season before the beginning of the year so it makes me proud."

Mauresmo's competitors in the individual sports category are speedskating star Cindy Klassen, alpine skiers Janica Kostelic and Laurie Stephens, swimmer Jessica Long, gymnast Chellsie Memmel, sprinter Sanya Richards, golf legend Annika Sorenstam, snowboarding's Hanna Teter, and race car driver Melanie Troxel. 10 more individuals from team sports also fight for an award.

The winners will be announced to the public and the awards will be presented at the Annual Salute to Women in Sports Awards Dinner on Monday, October 16, 2006, at the Waldorf-Astoria in New York City.

Former Sportswoman of the Year recipients from the tennis world are Tracy Austin (1980), Chris Evert (1981), Martina Navratilova (1982, 1983, 1984), Steffi Graf (1989) and the Williams sisters (as a team in 2000).

Founded in 1974 by Billie Jean King, the Women's Sports Foundation is a charitable educational organization dedicated to advancing the lives of girls and women through sports and physical activity. The Foundation's Participation, Education, Advocacy, Research and Leadership programs are made possible by individual and corporate contributions. For more information, please visit its official Web site, at www.womenssportsfoundation.org.
-- WTA