Mauresmo is not worried about rustiness

NEW YORK, Aug 25 (Reuters) After overcoming her crippling battle with big-match nerves, Amelie Mauresmo is convinced her inactivity heading into the US Open will not pose a problem.

The world's top-ranked player heads into the final grand slam of the year having played just one tournament since her stirring victory over Justine Henin-Hardenne in last month's Wimbledon final.

''It is not ideal but I have had so many different experiences and I finally realised that there is no rule,'' said Mauresmo, who claimed her maiden slam at the Australian Open in January.

''Sometimes you feel great going into a grand slam, winning a lot of tournaments but then it doesn't work. Other times it works. I'll just take it as it comes.'' The two-week US Open begins on Monday and Mauresmo has apparently overcome her nagging groin and shoulder injuries. The 27-year-old Frenchwoman will have a difficult path at Flushing Meadows if she is going to win her third major of the year.

She could play Montreal Cup winner Ana Ivanovic or Serena Williams in the fourth round and then have to face, in succession, Martina Hingis, Maria Sharapova and Henin-Hardenne to win the title.

But unlike in previous years, if Mauresmo loses, it will because she succumbed on the court, not in her head.

She believes she has exorcised the demons of stage fright, which, for years, had limited her ability to play her best at the big events.

''It took me some time (to win a grand slam) but some never find it,'' she said. ''I never let things get me down even though it was tough some times and I thought, I don't get it.

''I just kept trying and this is the reward for me today. I am more relaxed now and probably able to relax more on the court now.'' INTENSE WEEKS With 2005 champion Kim Clijsters sidelined with a wrist injury, Henin-Hardenne is the second seed and has an easier path to the final than Mauresmo.

To reach the final, Henin-Hardenne will probably have to get past seventh seed Patty Schnyder before facing Elena Dementieva, 2004 champion Svetlana Kuznetsova or 30th seed Venus Williams, a twice former Open winner.

Henin-Hardenne is trying to erase the memory of her three-set loss to Mauresmo at the All England Club.

''Still a couple of weeks after it I was thinking about it,'' said the French Open winner. ''But I can say now that I was not fresh enough at that time.

''It had been an intense few weeks, with the French Open, Eastbourne and then Wimbledon. Even if I had won the first set I didn't think I had the energy to fight enough like I usually do.

But it is far away now.'' If the seeding follows form, Mauresmo will face Sharapova in one semi-final, while Henin-Hardenne will battle Dementieva in the other.

Now that Mauresmo has won two major tournaments, the title of 'Best Women's Player to Have Never Captured a Grand Slam' falls to Dementieva.

Twice a grand slam finalist, including the 2004 U.S. Open, fourth seed Dementieva believes she is now ready to take the next step.

''When I reached the semi-finals (of the Open) in 2000 I was so scared I didn't know what to do, it was almost like I didn't deserve to be there,'' said the 24-year-old Russian.

''Now, I feel like I deserve to be my ranking and I can play at the top level.'' Reuters PDS VP0850