With the US summer hard court season complete, the tour now jets off to the Asian circuit. This leg of season 2008 will be brief as far as Marion is concerned, opting only to play this coming week’s Toray Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo before returning to Europe for the indoor events.
The 2008 PPO is a natural choice for Marion at this stage of the season. In a change to the indoor carpet of previous years, this year’s tournament is being held on an outdoor hard court. Actually at the same venue as the Japan Open which Marion won in 2006.
The tier I PPO is a step up in competition from the tier III Tokyo title that Marion won two years ago. But on the back of a fruitful three months, confidence abounds that the French Number 1 can carry forward the feel-good factor on to the fast and low bounce surface of the PPO.
Almost every top 25 player will be present, including French Open champ Ana Ivanovic.
The main draw itself consists of 32 players, small for a tier I, and an adjunct qulifying tournament takes place over the weekend as normal.
Despite the absence of three out of four of this year’s Grand Slam champions, the tournament retains the exclusive, intimate, and elite feel of for example the Year Ending Championship. When a former grand slam winning player like Amelie Mauresmo only just makes the main draw by virtue of another player’s absence, this speaks volumes for the calibre of the coming week’s action, and of the task that lies ahead for Marion. A task which Marion is well equipped to handle on current form.
Speaking recently, Walter Bartoli said, “Marion’s level of play has never been so high. In my opinion, she is playing better than last year when she reached the final of Wimbledon.”
Dr. Bartoli went on to praise Marion’s adaptability, saying that they have been working together on improving ball strike, mobility, and power of serve. The success of the latter, magnificently demonstrated at the world’s largest tennis venue by a Gauline Gladiator out-hittong Lindsay Davenport of all people.
There have been a lot of nearly’s recently; The final in Stanford, the frustrating semi in Montreal, the illness induced exit at the US Open.
Fans are proud of Marion’s efforts. Hope abides strong that the nearly’s will become definately’s, and that our dear Marion will soon hold deserved recognition and much more.
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