Sunday, Nov. 18, 2007

By SALVATORE ZANCA

PARIS (AP) Edging Kimmie Meissner in the short program wasn't enough to put a smile on Mao Asada's face.

Mao Asada, the world's top-ranked female skater, competes in the short program at the Trophee Bompard in Paris on Friday night. Asada leads heading into Saturday's free skate. AP PHOTO

The Japanese skater had a slight lead over the 2006 world champion Friday at Trophee Bompard after both made mistakes in their jump combinations. But Asada, the reigning world silver medalist, was so upset she broke down in tears after the performance and had to be consoled.

"She enjoys her skating. That is what it is all about," said coach Rafael Arutunian, who coached Michelle Kwan. "She didn't care about the placement. She came in first but she was disappointed with her skating."

Asada leads Meissner 56.90 to 55.98 going into the free skate, but less than 3 1/2 points separate the top five skaters.

Elena Glebova of Estonia completed the only triple-triple combination, but her presentation marks left her in third place. Sarah Meier of Switzerland was fourth and American Ashley Wagner was fifth.

French skaters led the way in the men's event and ice dance, while Olympic silver medalists Zhang Dan and Zhang Hao topped the pairs competition. All four titles will be decided Saturday.

Alban Preaubert made up for the absence of world champion and fellow Frenchman Brian Joubert, who is out with a virus, taking the lead over Canada's Patrick Chan and Kevin van der Perren of Belgium.

Isabel Delobel and Olivier Schoenfelder, the European champions, won the dance compulsories.

Asada's jump combination in the short program has been giving her problems for months. She missed it at Skate Canada two weeks ago and was third after the short, but rallied to win. She also faltered on it at the world championships last March in Tokyo, rebounding with a strong free skate to claim the silver medal.

She put it in extra work on the combination during practice, but it still caused trouble Friday. Skating to a violin piece, she singled her loop after a triple flip. She also was downgraded on another jump.

She barely spoke during the news conference, then broke down in tears. Arutunian and Japanese officials spent 10 minutes consoling her before she was composed enough to speak with Japanese reporters.

"In the short program I have not made the jump combination not even once this year, and so it is hanging over me," Asada said.

Meissner, skating to Peter Gabriel's "The Feeling Begins," also missed the second part of her jump. But she was upbeat, happy she had made the first jump in the combination, a triple lutz.

"The past few years here I always made a mistake on my lutz," said Meissner, the 2006 world champion. "Then I was so happy about making the lutz, I just didn't do the second part."

Joubert, the first Frenchman in 42 years to win the world title, won at Skate Canada and was the favorite at Trophee Bompard. But he hasn't felt well the last few days, and withdrew Thursday. Doctors have recommended he take at least 10 days off.

"I was really sad that Brian is not here because last year we had a very good Trophee Bompard as we came first and second," Preaubert said. "But I try not to think about that and just of my performance."

Preaubert scored 72.70 points and included a triple flip-triple toe loop in his program.

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