General / Editor / 22 May 2007 /

Betfair customers will have to pay heed to Amelie Mauresmo's comments that she is "a long way from the top players" as the French Open approaches.

The 27-year-old has always buckled under the pressure at Roland Garros and has just two quarter-final appearances to her credit at her 'home' Grand Slam.

Hopes were high that the 2006 Wimbledon and Australian Open champion would be able to carry forward her form into this season's clay-court season but she has been sidelined with appendicitis for two months and has played just three matches on the slower courts since returning.

Although the hard-hitting right-hander is over her appendix surgery, she feels that time is running out to close the gap on those who have been playing on clay for the past few weeks.

"When you are out for a while you just want to get back to your level as quickly as possible and obviously I am not there yet," she admitted.

"I am a long way from the top players. I'm more at ease on quick surfaces. I know I can adapt my game to clay but having to do it in so little time is a challenge.

"When the doctor told me I needed surgery it was a real blow. After that, for two weeks I couldn't do anything. Usually, even when you are on holidays, you can do a bit of training.

"Eventually we were able to do some physical work but what I need is to play matches. This is something we haven't been able to work on a lot."

The Frenchwoman is trading at 14 to win the title at the 13th time of asking with Justine Henin the 2.7 favourite.

Serena Williams, who has a habit of turning it on in the big tournaments, is available at 5.3, while Jelena Jankovic can be backed at 10.5.

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