NOTEBOOK \ Wimbledon

Feeling her age: Amelie Mauresmo turns 28 next week, and her years of experience can give her an edge over many of the other top players on the women’s tennis tour. It doesn’t help the defending Wimbledon champion much before she steps on the court, though. “I sometimes probably feel old in the locker rooms because they talk [about] probably very teenage things,” Mauresmo said after beating Mara Santangelo of Italy 6-1, 6-2 Saturday in the third round. “But physically I feel pretty good right now. You shouldn’t be, I don’t know, regretting when you were 20 or whatever.” Five of the of the 13 other players left in her half of the draw are teenagers, including Ana Ivanovic, Nicole Vaidisova and Victoria Azarenka. Mauresmo has been impressed with what they’ve been able to accomplish. “They’re very mature already,” said Mauresmo, who won her first two Grand Slam titles last year. “On the tennis court particularly, I think they’re all doing great.” Especially the 19-year-old Ivanovic, who reached the final of the French Open before losing to top-ranked Justine Henin. In the fourth round at Wimbledon, Mauresmo will face either the 18-year-old Vaidisova or the 17-year-old Azarenka. The teens started their match Saturday, but it was suspended because of rain with Vaidisova serving while leading 6-4, 3-2.

Another Krajicek: Michaella Krajicek has reached the fourth round at a Grand Slam event for the first time, and her brother Richard — the 1996 Wimbledon champion — will be at the All England Club to watch. “He’s arriving today or tomorrow,” Krajicek said Saturday. “If I do really well, maybe his wife and kids will come, too.” The 18-year-old Krajicek next faces Laura Granville of the United States, who upset five-time major winner Martina Hingis in the third round. Krajicek said she was happy that Hingis, the 1997 Wimbledon champion, lost. “Otherwise, I think I would have too much respect for Martina,” said Krajicek, who is expected to play her fourth-round match Monday. “My first time in the fourth round and she’s won so many titles.”

Associated Press