Unfortunately Caroline Wozniacki blew away Marion like a sandstorm, sending our hero packing in less than an hour and a quarter.
1ST SET
Serving with clinical efficiency, Wozniacki was up a break at 4-2 before even losing a point on serve.
By the 7th game Marion began to show signs of coming round from her siesta. She earned a break-back point, but Wozniacki held on for 5-2 - The Bartoli hibernation continued unabated.
Wozniacki took 2nd set point on Marion's serve, to win the opening set 6-2.
2ND SET
Wozniacki opened the set.
Again Marion applied a little more pressure on the Wozniacki serve, but couldnt convert the break-point. Wozniacki held for 1-0.
In her most comfortable service game of the match so far, Marion held to 15 for 1-1.
Wozniacki replied in her next service game with her 4th ace and another hold to love. 2-1.
Wozniacki reached deuce in the next game. Advantage on Marion's 2nd serve, followed by a double fault, Marion is broken. Down 3-1, and in the red hot dangerzone. Wake up Marion!
No love service game for Wozniacki this time. Marion again failed to convert the break-point. One deuce, Wozniacki holds for 4-1.
Again Marion was unable to reply with a service hold. Broken to 30 for 5-1.
Maybe it was the familiar smell of burning rubber under Marion's feet that quickened her step, because from match point down, she broke Wolniacki for the first time in the match, for 5-2. She then held to 30 for 5-3...
But it was too late. For the 5th time in the match Wozniacki held to love, for 6-3. Game set and match.
EASY?
Reading posts on forums lastnight, I could see that some where already projecting ahead to a 'likely' quarter-final clash with Maria Sharapova...
Woooooh folks.. slow down.
Yeh, am personally confident of her chances, but isnt it naive to look too far ahead with our mercurial Marion. I'm sure Marion herself would advise against taking things for granted.
Too much introspection isnt good, for Marion, for anyone. However as a fan I sometimes fall foul of hubris too - Indulging those appalling culinary witticisms and Danish pastry puns! lol? or Sorry?
If ever the oldest sporting cliche rung true, it rings true in the case of Marion Bartoli.. 'take one match at a time..' 'there are no easy opponents..' and equally applicable 'can beat anyone on the day.'
With another week to aclimatise to the desert heat, let's hope Marion is more successful in next weeks Teir 2 event in Dubai.
Just dont sing me any Neil Diamond songs today.. or ever! 
Marion today. I like her outfit anyway, pretty.
MARION'S STATS
Aces 0
Double faults 2
1st serve % 63%
1st serve points won 53%
2nd serve points won 50%
Break points saved 33%
1st return points won 25%
2nd return points won 38%
Break points won 33%
Total service points won 52%
Total return points won 29%
Thanks to Jim for stats and scores.
POST-MATCH COMMENTS
"I took a long time to adjust to the playing conditions here," Bartoli said. "I played at Paris Indoors, but could not adjust in Doha that quickly. I think she played really well today."
edit 21:00 02.20.08
Well look on the brightside! She reached the semis of Antwerp, a tournie that brought her no joy or points in the past. Dubai will be just as tough, but RG and Wimbles are not far of her radar.
BTW what happened to TP2? Its gone, or the server is down. Just getting the proboards main page.