Marion Bartoli defeats Sabine Lisicki to claim maiden Grand Slam triumph
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Marion Bartoli poses with the trophy after beating Sabine Lisicki in their final match at Wimbledon. (AFP Photo)
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LONDON:
The serve that kissed the chalk and kicked into the stands, pronounced
Marion Bartoli, aged 28 and making her 47th Grand Slam appearance, as
the 2013 Wimbledon champion.
Results: Women's Singles | Men's Singles | In Pics: Bartoli wins Wimbledon title
The French woman, chunky build and cherubic face, who wields her racquet like a paint brush, created her own Picasso, as she raced across the arena and flew into the arms of her father Walter, a medical doctor, who gave up his job to coach his daughter.
A journey that began under a leaky roof on an indoor court in Paris 22 years ago, came wonderfully alive on the sun-drenched Centre Court that stood to a man to applaud the theatre that unfolded before them.
Incidentally, there was a match and a scoreline. Bartoli, who packs a brutal punch for someone who lists Mahatma Gandhi as her role model off the court, beat Sabine Lisicki, the powerful German who was the favourite for the title going into the final, 6-1, 6-4 in 81 minutes.
Bartoli, hugging the Venus Rosewater Dish, said: "I just can't believe it. Not even in my wildest dreams did I imagine that I would finish the Wimbledon final with an ace. I thought I might close it with a backhand, but never an ace.
When I started my campaign here on Court No. 14, I wouldn't have believed anyone if they told me I would be here in the final, much less holding this trophy. I played my best tennis of the tournament today, I served well, I returned well and I was moving well."
Before thanking her father and her support team, Bartoli had a word for her opponent, "I know how it feels Sabine, but you'll be back in the final. I know, because you deserve it."
Going into the title round, no one gave the 'unlikely' finalist much of a chance against a player whose powerful serves and stinging strokes had knocked out five-time champion Serena Williams and last year's finalist Agnieszka Radwanska, but Bartoli believed, and on a bright and beautiful summer afternoon in this leafy suburb of London, she showed she belonged.
After a hesitant start, when Bartoli fell behind double breakpoint in her opening service game, the Geneva-based pro, presently coached by the last Frenchwoman to win on these courts, Amelie Mauresmo, weighed-in with her two-handed groundstrokes. She took the early ball, eating into the reaction time of her big-hitting opponent, hurrying her up and forcing the errors.
Lisicki, who smiled her way into the final, romancing the crowd, was quickly in tears as her opponent won six straight games to seal the opening set.
After the first set, Lisicki, who was struggling with nerves, took a toilet break. American legend John McEnroe called it, 'ludicrous'. Lindsay Davenport, a former champion here, asked, "Seriously. A bathroom break after just 30-minutes?"
Marion's records
Marion Bartoli sets a new record by winning her first Grand Slam in the 47th attempt. She surpassed the previous record set by Jana Novotna, who won Wimbledon in 1998 after 45 appearances at the majors.
At 28 years, 9 months, she is the fifth oldest first-time winner in the Open Era.
She is the sixth woman in the Open Era to win Wimbledon without dropping a set, it has happened nine times in total.
She is the first woman to win Wimbledon in the Open Era playing double-handed off both sides.
KNOW BARTOLI
World ranking: 15 (will move to 7)
Age: 28 (Oct 2, 1984)
Coach: Amelie Mauresmo
Career singles titles: 8
Grand Slam singles titles: 1
Career prize money: $10,897,902
Wimbledon prize money: £1.6m
HER QUIRKS
On court, the woman from Le Puy en Velay, France is a livewire, rarely standing still between points as she goes through a series of manic routines which include practice swings, running on the spot and pumping her fists.
There are shades of Rafael Nadal about the Geneva resident's on-court demeanour as she sometimes sprints back to the chair after game points.
Bartoli revealed a pre-match nap in the locker room was the secret of her success in an earlier round.
Results: Women's Singles | Men's Singles | In Pics: Bartoli wins Wimbledon title
The French woman, chunky build and cherubic face, who wields her racquet like a paint brush, created her own Picasso, as she raced across the arena and flew into the arms of her father Walter, a medical doctor, who gave up his job to coach his daughter.
A journey that began under a leaky roof on an indoor court in Paris 22 years ago, came wonderfully alive on the sun-drenched Centre Court that stood to a man to applaud the theatre that unfolded before them.
Incidentally, there was a match and a scoreline. Bartoli, who packs a brutal punch for someone who lists Mahatma Gandhi as her role model off the court, beat Sabine Lisicki, the powerful German who was the favourite for the title going into the final, 6-1, 6-4 in 81 minutes.
Bartoli, hugging the Venus Rosewater Dish, said: "I just can't believe it. Not even in my wildest dreams did I imagine that I would finish the Wimbledon final with an ace. I thought I might close it with a backhand, but never an ace.
When I started my campaign here on Court No. 14, I wouldn't have believed anyone if they told me I would be here in the final, much less holding this trophy. I played my best tennis of the tournament today, I served well, I returned well and I was moving well."
Before thanking her father and her support team, Bartoli had a word for her opponent, "I know how it feels Sabine, but you'll be back in the final. I know, because you deserve it."
Going into the title round, no one gave the 'unlikely' finalist much of a chance against a player whose powerful serves and stinging strokes had knocked out five-time champion Serena Williams and last year's finalist Agnieszka Radwanska, but Bartoli believed, and on a bright and beautiful summer afternoon in this leafy suburb of London, she showed she belonged.
After a hesitant start, when Bartoli fell behind double breakpoint in her opening service game, the Geneva-based pro, presently coached by the last Frenchwoman to win on these courts, Amelie Mauresmo, weighed-in with her two-handed groundstrokes. She took the early ball, eating into the reaction time of her big-hitting opponent, hurrying her up and forcing the errors.
Lisicki, who smiled her way into the final, romancing the crowd, was quickly in tears as her opponent won six straight games to seal the opening set.
After the first set, Lisicki, who was struggling with nerves, took a toilet break. American legend John McEnroe called it, 'ludicrous'. Lindsay Davenport, a former champion here, asked, "Seriously. A bathroom break after just 30-minutes?"
Marion's records
Marion Bartoli sets a new record by winning her first Grand Slam in the 47th attempt. She surpassed the previous record set by Jana Novotna, who won Wimbledon in 1998 after 45 appearances at the majors.
At 28 years, 9 months, she is the fifth oldest first-time winner in the Open Era.
She is the sixth woman in the Open Era to win Wimbledon without dropping a set, it has happened nine times in total.
She is the first woman to win Wimbledon in the Open Era playing double-handed off both sides.
KNOW BARTOLI
World ranking: 15 (will move to 7)
Age: 28 (Oct 2, 1984)
Coach: Amelie Mauresmo
Career singles titles: 8
Grand Slam singles titles: 1
Career prize money: $10,897,902
Wimbledon prize money: £1.6m
HER QUIRKS
On court, the woman from Le Puy en Velay, France is a livewire, rarely standing still between points as she goes through a series of manic routines which include practice swings, running on the spot and pumping her fists.
There are shades of Rafael Nadal about the Geneva resident's on-court demeanour as she sometimes sprints back to the chair after game points.
Bartoli revealed a pre-match nap in the locker room was the secret of her success in an earlier round.
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ALSO ON TOI
7
5
1
Many
experts wrote her off as the losing finalist. Her opponent was a giant
killer who could in a difficult match pack of Serena Williams in the
Quarters itself. Any body seen Bartoli playing in the earlier years
felt that she had an outside chance of making it big. The effort she
has put over the years kept her moving up the chart. The way she was
shuffling and practice swinging in between receiving services in this
tournament many did note her and many in Bangalore counted her chances
in joining the bigger league. Each match her confidence also went up.
Serene winning one more time would not have made much difference.
Bartoli has something to prove to the tennis world that there is no
substitute to real hard work and hard work pays. Her victory is going to
motivate many others to do the hard work.
4
4
1
Well
played, Marion.You are gutsy, fierce and an astute thinker.More than
that , you revealed your sporting and humane side of your personality.
You cheered up Lisicki at the prize distribution ceremony.We understand
you hold Mahatma Gandhi as your role model.This is truly a pleasant
surprise ,having seen your stiff expressions on the court.Good luck.
4
4
1
Sadly,
what started with a bang ended in a whimper.Thats the way, one would
describe Lisicki's performance in this year's Wimbledon.She conquered
Serena Williams and Radwanski and yet gave up her last, all important
match virtually on a platter.She didn't loose to Bartoli ;rather, she
lost to her unforced errors, impatience shown in returning shots and
most important, poor temperaments.Bartoli ,on the other hand, showed
measuredaggression, presence of mind and seemed to have done her
homework well.
Kareena Kapoor is a ' Looker' and India must produce Women Lawn Tennis Players with Beach Badminton Players !!.
Fantastic
tenacity. She lost to Venus Williams in 2007 after beating Henin the
No.1 seed in a 3 setter Semifinal..Everyone forgot as we only remember
Winners.
She was similar prospect as Sania Mirza in 2005....She continued and
got the results.
Kudos to her
1
1
1
It
was a gift of Lisicki to Bartoli. She cleared the route only for
Bartoli to clinch the title. Lisicki was not herself today in the center
court. She played the worst match of her career. Having broken Bartoli
in the opening game, everyone was hoping that the match will be done
under an hour. Lisicki's serve and groundstrokes disappeared and no one
could believe that it is the Lisicki who blew of Serena after 0-3 down
in the final set. Her serves have deserted her. She resorted to drop
shots unnecessarily and lost the points which boosted the confidence of
Bartoli. She did not challenge one return from Bartoli which was a clear
out at least by 6 inches from the sideline. Everyone who paid to watch a
thrilling win might have cursed her for the worst performance. I am
sure she has to wait for many years to have a chance like this to win a
grand slam. She must sleep at least for two days to overcome the agony
of losing a match which she should have won authoritatively.
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