Marion's conquerer Caroline Wozniacki fell to Venus 3-6 3-6. Considering that 4 top 10 players and other top 20 players didnt reach the 4th round, it was a good tournament for the youngster. And few players can beat Venus if she is on form.

I would hope that this might put Marion's loss to Caro in some perspective - the detractors pointing the finger and saying Marion should not have lost etc etc. These detractors do a disservice to Marion and too Caro, and shows they fail to grasp the fact that a player cannot go unbeaten in their career, and that they cannot always play to their true form.

Clay Courts next, and although not Marion's best surface, I wouldnt be surprised if this is where we see an upturn in form

Go Maramalizer Marion!!

(Jim Morris)

SONY ERICSSON OPEN > MIAMI > HARD SURFACE > TEIR 1 > 1ST ROUND

It took less than an hour for Marion's opponent to inflict another dissapointing early exit.

Hopes that the last defeat to Wozniacki was simply a blip, where quickly dashed as soon Marion failed to hold her opening service games.

Despite gaining one service break back, Marion still lost the first set 6-3.

Often if Marion starts poor, she will fight back later in the match, the converse is true also. But today, if the scoreline is anything to go things seemed to just slip away insipidly.

However, insipid and the name Bartoli are not commonly associated with eachother when it comes to tennis. Indeed, the scoreline masks the fact that Marion almost had the first 3 games of the 2nd set in the bag, yet for whatever reason ended up losing them.

In one such game for example, from 40-Love up on her serve Marion lost the game - An unpleasant pill for her to have to swallow, symptomatic of underlying problems with confidence? Or confidence in aspects of her own game? Only Marion can say.

Again, despite winning a break back midway through the 2nd set, Marion lost the 2nd set 6-1.

Ok, the horrifying scoreline masks the fact that on points won most of the games in the match where close. But that will be cold comfort for Marion. Winning matches is about confidently closing out the game, the set, and the match. Marion was unable to do this today.

For Wozniacki, she now has two successive victories over Marion in as many months. Steadily showing her significant potential.

The next tournament for Marion is scheduled as Amelia Island.

Let's hope Marion can put this dissapointment behind her, and that better things lie ahead.

edited at 17:17 on March 29 2008

Marion's match is on today. It is scheduled as the third match on the Grandstand Court. Play starts at 11:00 AM local time.

OH's match should commence from around 9pm UK time. (4pm EST)

Reaching the Quarter Final in 2003 is Marion's best performance at Miami so far.

Allez Super Marion!

Edited at 17:19 on 29 March 2008

SONY ERICSSON OPEN > MIAMI > Tier 1 > R2

Marion had a Bye in 1st Round. She plays Wozniacki in 2nd Round.. yes, Caro again.

More Later..

www.tennis-x.com
[Marion Bartoli on not being able to participate in Beijing Olympics for Italy, after blowing off the Italian Fed Cup team.

"It has been a situation where it was really hard for me to integrate the Fed Cup team, and with the situation after Wimbledon when I was in the final, first Slam, and I didnt play against Italy, and we didnt find a situation where it's possible for me to integrate the team. So if i'm not playing the Fed Cup I cant play the Olympics. It's as simple as that. I dont care about this much. Because I have to play back to back the French Open and Wimbledon, and then going to Montreal and Beijing, and then come back to US Open and go to Tokyo again is really too much travelling.

What I really want to play is to play Wimbledon 2012, and I would really commit myself to play this Olympics. I would find this solution, I am sure, with the French Federation."]

Just as a note of correction, "Italy" should read, France.. Perhaps a Fraudian-Slip on the part of www.tennis-x.com .

MIAMI
Next event for Marion is the Teir 1 Sony Ericcson Open in Miami later this week. More news as and when.

REMINISCE
Yesterday I surrendered to the call of nostalgia by watching my video of the Wimbledon Final. It is the first time I have done so since watching live on tv last July.

I was struck by how my recollection of the match was out of synch with how it actually unfolded.

One thing that impressed me was how closely fought the points and games where in the first set. Marion was down two breaks and 3-0. But every game reached deuce and break points. Some superbe points from kicsi Marion to get past Venus's 6x6 span. Fighting back bravely to 3-3, and 4-4.

Unfortunately, or maybe not, the video went blank at 3-3.

The commentator said the odds of Marion reaching the final where 1000/1. John McEnroe said it should be a million to one.

Her odds of repeating this will be less. But who cares for the exchange of odds and the exchange of journaling opinion. Who cares about usury and hogs.

If Dr. Bartoli believes in his daughter and his daughter believes in him, what else matters.

edit 23:50 240308

Greater love has no man than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.

You did not chose my but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit - fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. This is my command: love each other.

John 15

Happy Easter to all friends and readers.

INDIAN WELLS > TIER 1 > 4TH ROUND

Condecending Marion from her lofty 6-foot-plus elevation, and egged-on by a partizan American crowd, Lindsay Davenport bombarded Marion out of Indian Wells.

Ace-Happy Davenport served up FOUR aces in a row to conclude the first set with a Love game.

When tall powerful players have their first-serve switched on, it's hard for any recieving player too get a racquet onto the ball. Marion has come in for criticism for her habit of stepping inside the baseline, and also of taking the ball early.. hum ho..

On top of 17 Aces, Davenport had 30-odd winners lastnight. Route-1. Crude, but effective.

Brave Marion made a match of things in the 2nd set. Indeed breaking Davenport to lead 5-3 and serve for the set... But once again for whatever reason Marion couldnt close out the set. Davenport fought back to win the 2nd set 7-5, and the match.

Certainly Marion had the toughest draw of any seed, in facing Davenport. Otherwise a Quarter Final or more was a prospect.

edit 18:42 032008

INDIAN WELLS > TIER 1 > 3RD ROUND

What a topsy turvy match OH had lastnight, Marion eventually finished her opponent off, in the 80f-plus conditions.

Down an early break, Marion levelled the match midway through the first set.

Then she hit the gas, winning all the games to close the set 6-2.

For most of the 2nd set Marion was in cruise control, keeping Kerber very busy indeed at the other end of the court.

As one spectator described,

"Marion controlled most of the points and had Kerber covering the whole court - Marion, crushing groundstrokes. Kerber, scrambling everywhere"
V.Melb

However, at 5-1 up in the 2nd set, Marion's nerves got the better of her. Having no fewer than 6, 7 or 8, match points, Kerber managed to claw her way back. Taking the set to a tie-break!

Fortunately Marion put some daylight between herself and Kerber by winning the tie break to 3.

Speaking after her win Marion said,

"I was feeling good until 6-3 5-1. I guess a one hour match was too quick for me and I stayed on the court a bit longer to practice!"

"Sometimes it happens, even if you try to close out in the match it's not happening. She has some luck on a few shots - She made a dropshot that she will never make on another match point, it happens."

"I have to focus on the positives from this match. When I am relaxed I play well, but when I am nervous - less so. There is a lack of concentration on my part. I have to overcome this mentally."

Next Marion will play former world number 1, Lindsay Davenport in the 4th Round. Lindsay recently returned to the tour, after taking time out to have a baby.

thanks to www.marion-bartoli.net for the great photo

A good convincing win for Marion.

Sometimes Marion will win a first set, but struggle to kill off players. Today her opponent tried to get back into the match, but Marion didnt allow her to do so.

Vesnina was a bit more involved in the contest during a nervy 2nd set. But Marion was always pressuring the Vesnina serve, and returning wonderfully.

Having had 3 match points on the Vesnina serve, Marion eventually closed things out on her own serve.

Marion's 3rd Round opponent will be Angelique Kerber of Germany, following a slightly unexpected win over Olga Govortsova.

The head to head is 1-1. Kerber in 3 sets on Clay 5 years ago at the Berlin Open. But Marion hammered her 6-0 6-2 last year on grass at the DFS Classic in Birmingham England.

Allez Marion!

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

This win occured exactly 100 days before Marion's return to Wimbledon, scene of her greatest achievement so far.

INDIAN WELLS

Marion now knows for sure that her 2nd Round opponent on Saturday will be Elena Vesnina.

21yo Ukrainian Elena Vesnina won her 1st round match against Hsieh Su-Wei in 3 sets.

Marion has played Vesnina on three occassions. Her opponent has won twice. Once at Poitiers in 2005 on Hard surface. Once on Clay in Strasbourg in 2006.

Marion beat Vesnina last year in their most recent match, again in Strasbourg.

Minor irony that all 3 previous meetings have been in Marion's native France.

Allez Marion!

Marion plays the Tier 1 event at Indian Wells this week.

Even though it's been underway since the weekend, the tournament proper begins as we move towards this weekend. Top ranking players including Marion having 1st round bye's.

On the face of it the draw has been quite kind to Marion. A 2nd round tie with Elena Vesnina probable.

Marion's section of the draw includes Sybille Bammer and Olga Govortsova. Both players that Marion has beaten on last meeting. However with Marion especially, we must take one match at a time.

With Justine Henin and both Williams sisters absent, the tournament itself is a little bit thin on some of the top names that would normally be expected to enter the event... Maybe this is due to the upgrading this year of the Qatar Open to Tier 1 status in place of San Diego.

Neverthless, Indian Wells remains one of the most prestigious events on the tour outside of the Slams.
Marion not having a bye last year, reached the 4th round. Therefore having a 4th round finish to defend this year, in terms of ranking points.

Cummon! Allez Marion!!

We have made a few changes over at Tennis Palace 2. TP2 is now host to a General tennis forum and, Marion Bartoli forum.

All welcome

http://www.tennispalace2.proboards99.com

Thanks to Jim for all his work.

Top 20 Ranked Players
(Height / Weight)

1). Justine Henin
5' 5.75" (167cm) 126lbs

2). Ana Ivanovic
6' 1" (185cm) 152lbs

3). Svetlana Kuznetsova
5' 8.5" (174cm) 161lbs

4). Jelena Jankovic
5' 9.5" (177cm) 130lbs

5). Maria Sharapova
6' 2" (188cm) 130lbs

6). Ana Chakvetadze
5' 7" (170cm) 128lbs

7). Venus Williams
6' 1" (185cm) 160lbs

8). Daniela Hantuchova
5' 11.25" (181cm) 137lbs

9). Marion Bartoli
5' 6.75" (170cm) 128lbs

10). Elena Dementieva
5' 11" (180cm) 141lbs

11). Serena Williams
5' 9" (175cm) 150lbs

12). Patty Schnyder
5' 6.25" (168cm) 125lbs

13). Tathiana Golovin
5' 9" (175cm) 133lbs

14). Nicole Vaidisova
6' 0" (183cm) 139lbs

15). Dinara Safina
5' 11.5" (182cm) 154lbs

16). Nadia Petrova
5' 10.25" (178cm) 143lbs

17). Shahar Peer
5' 7" (170cm) 132lbs

18). Agnes Szavay
5' 7" (171cm) 139lbs

19). Agnieszka Radwanska
5' 8" (172cm) 123lbs

20). Sybille Bammer
5' 9" (174cm) 139lbs

Top 20 ranking players arranged in order of height
1 Sharapova 188cm
2 V. Williams 185cm
3 Ivanovic 185cm
4 Vaidisova 183cm
5 Safina 182cm
6 Hantuchova 181cm
7 Dementieva 180cm
8 Petrova 178cm
9 Jankovic 177cm
10 S. Williams 175cm
11 Golovin 175cm
12 Bammer 174cm
13 Kuznetsova 174cm
14 Radwanska 172cm
15 Szavay 171cm
16 Chakvetadze 170cm
17 Peer 170cm
18 Bartoli 170cm
19 Schnyder 168 cm
20 Henin 167cm

Compare Marion's height/weight stats with Shahar and Justine.

Gives the lie to the myth that Marion is overweight.

As for fat to Muscle ratio? Just look at the many pics in the blog archive. Marion is perhaps even more muscular than the wirey Justine innit.

Ok, she loves cooking, candy, and chocolate cake... So what? A girl who has improved her ranking every year of her career deserves her treats, doesnt she? Besides, she is French after all!

You see, If the rest of the world had the love affair with food that France and Italy have, then we would add to the gaiety of nations... just like Marion does.

Dont mess with Marion

edit 0030 030808

Marion interviewed for Gulf News last week

* * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Bartoli Wants To Go For Her Shots

By Alaric Gomes, Senior Reporter

Published: February 24 , 2008 , 01 :13 Dubai:

The last year has been one of fluctuating fortunes, but Frenchwoman Marion Bartoli stays undaunted as she pursues yet another season of a top-10 finish in the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour Rankings.

"If you want to be a champion, then one has to take the wins with the losses. One has to move on," Bartoli told Gulf News during her visit to Prince Stores at the BurJuman Centre yesterday.

"I know what I am capable of achieving. All I need to do is keep the confidence level up and go for those shots that will take you there," she smiled.

Currently ranked No 9 on the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour rankings, Bartoli stunned the tennis world last year with her maiden appearance at a Grand Slam final at Wimbledon.

On her way to the final, Bartoli - a previous winner here at the Al Habtoor Tennis Challenge in 2002 - accounted for third seed Jelena Jankovic in the fourth round, Michaela Krajicek in the quarterfinals and top seed Justine Henin in the semifinals after trailing her 6-1 , 5-3.

Her dream run eventually came to a grinding halt in the final when Venus Williams beat her in straight sets.

"But 2007 has had the best memories for me all the same. I had set a top-10 finish and I was able to achieve this goal, and that has been very, very satisfying," she said.

That confidence also took the Frenchwoman to second week action at both the US Open and the French Open. "I knew that I could ride the confidence wave and that, in turn, would help me to climb up in the rankings," Bartoli stated.

However, the hard regimen took its toll. Having touched her best ranking of number nine in the middle of October last year, she wrestled with injuries - first a hip injury in Rome and then a wrist injury in Cincinnati.

"It is hard for the body to handle so many tournaments in one season," she says.

"The idea in the future is to play less and have a better planned calendar," Bartoli said.

The current season has also been a mixed one for her. "I was disappointed that I could not do better in Australia. But I still have the remaining three Grand Slams and I want to do well so that I can achieve my goal of staying in the top ten for yet another season," Bartoli added.

Up close a Seles fan to the core

Dubai and Monica Seles hold a special place in Marion Bartoli's heart - one as the place that got her career going and the other as the person who has inspired her to achieve and be what she is today.

"I won here [the Al Habtoor Challenge in 2002] and that sort of got me going on to bigger things. And Monica [Seles] has always been the person I have looked up to at all times," Bartoli told Gulf News.

Seles, who announced her retirement from tennis last week, has been an inspiration for the 23-year-old Frenchwoman who now resides in Zurich. "I've got posters of her everywhere in my room. But there are only a couple of these which are stuck on my room wall," she disclosed.

Prominent among Seles's traits that keep Bartoli going on the Tour are her aggressive nature and her willingness to fight for every point till the end.

"She is so very special to me. I met her once and that was simply memorable. I was supposed to play against her once [at the 2003 Miami Open], but she withdrew with an injury. I miss that moment," Bartoli stated.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Monica Seles officially announced her retirement on 14th February 2008.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Marion will return to action next week at Indian Wells.