It seems that reports of Marion's possible return to to the French Team for the Fed Cup tie with Italy on Feb 6-7, were premature.
'Nicolas Escude, the team captain of France to Fed Cup appointed last December, met Marion Bartoli at the end of her match against Jelena Jankovic yesterday. Not surprisingly, the last French representative at the Australian Open retains her position and refuses to join. "Things have not changed. We have great respect for each other but Marion is not in Orleans for the first round. This is something today learned. [Marion and her father Walter] have a way of operating totally incompatible with team competition and team spirit. They are the first to recognize, says Nicolas Escude in Paris. With her we would be stronger. But now it is not possible. So it no sense to regret."'
Source: welovetennis.fr - Thomas Cisonni, lundi 26 janvier 2009 à 10:42
Even though the story about Marion's possible return originated from Alain Defflaiseux, it all seemed a bit counter intuitive. Personally i'm glad. No dad. No play.
UPDATE 13:57
"It was just a misunderstanding between Deflassieux and Marion. Marion said that she should be called due to her results. And Deflassieux understood that she was ready to come without her father." From Lighter
UPDATE 28/01/09
Comments by Nicolas Escude today 28th Jan, following the announcement of the French Fed Cup team for the tie with Italy.
Q.Is it frustrating not being able to count on the French
performance at the Australian Open, Marion Bartoli in this case?
Yes, of course. If Marion could integrate this group today, the French team will
be enhanced. But today, it is hardly possible. I talked
several times with her father Walter and with her, especially after her victory over Jankovic in
Melbourne.
I repeated the point with them and, for now, the return of Marion is absolutely
no news, which is necessarily harmful.
Do you feel that the situation is irretrievable?
It is blocked on the first round against Italy. But I think this might change, and I
hope favorably.
