Mauresmo taking it step by step
Simon Cambers
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Less than two years after she last held the number one ranking, Amelie Mauresmo continued her encouraging return to form at the U.S. Open on Thursday.
The two-time grand-slam champion pulled herself out of a hole to beat Kaia Kanepi of Estonia 2-6 6-4 6-0 in the second round at Flushing Meadows.
After another injury-interrupted year, the Frenchwoman is showing signs of regaining the kind of form that took her to victory in both the Australian Open and Wimbledon in 2006.
On Thursday, Mauresmo trailed world number 43 Kanepi by a set and a break but rallied to set up a third-round clash with French qualifier Julie Coin, who stunned top seed Ana Ivanovic.
Although her path through the draw has opened up with the defeat of Ivanovic, Mauresmo said she was taking it step by step.
"It's not quite there yet," said Mauresmo, who reached the semi-finals in both Cincinnati and New Haven en route to the U.S. Open.
"I'm enjoying myself more on the court. I'm having a little bit more adrenaline out there. It's a good start for something better.
"The level is better but it's not quite where I would love it for now. But I would say it's on the way, I hope."
Kanepi, a quarter-finalist at the French Open earlier this year, looked on course for an upset when she eased through the first set and broke in the opening game of the second.
But the 29-year-old, seeded 32nd in New York, broke back immediately and after edging the second set she stormed through the decider to book her place in the third round.
(Editing by Pritha Sarkar)
