Marion started so brighly, she broke a couple of times early on and led 3-1.
However it was downhill from there as Zvonareva won the next 11 games.
Following this defeat I don't think Marion will be making excuses, i'm sure she will be quick to congratulate Vera, acknowledge her win, and the outstanding level of tennis which earned her this win.
I was able to see some of this match on a broken dial up livestream. What I did notice was Marion looking troubled by the heat. She was hunched forward almost foetally in the chair near the end of the match, seemingly sheltering in the shade at the back of the court at times too.
It is touching 40 degrees in Melbourne. The hottest temperatures in Melbourne since 1908. I dont want to sound like am making excuses, because to be clear the conditions are a totally separate issue from tennis itself, and does not in any way detract from or diminish Vera's win. Nevertheless, it is simply a heartbreaker watching your player, your prize flower, wilt before your eyes.
Repeatedly I have argued that the scheduling of the Australian Open has to be looked at, not just because of the heat, but for a number of reasons. (And to be sure, this is my opinion only, as Marion has never expressed any opninion concerning the scheduling of the Australian Open in January.)
Three girls have retired during their matches this week, and the heat certainly didnt help in this. Theze extreme temperatures simply make a mockery of the tennis spectacle.
Not once has Marion ever played an evening match.. doubly frustrating because here in UK only some of the evening matches have been televised or covered on radio.
The match went ahead in a furnace. I probably could have cooked my evening meal on the end of a 20,000 mile long fork if I had aimed it at Melbourne!! Haggis ala Aussie es pomme fritte.. 
To be serious, despite the disappointing outcome, i'm sure every fan of Marion Bartoli is very proud of her achievements since the start of the season. Her play has set a good tone for the rest of the season, and surely a real challenge for the Wimbledon and US Open open titles must be very possible this year.
Well done Marion.
Congratulations to Vera Zvonareva on reaching her first grand slam semi final.
More details later.
EDITED 07:32
Now I hear Djokovic has retired with heatstoke, the defendeing champion, try to convince me that the conditions are not ruining the Australian Open every year, what would otherwise be a great tournament.
EDITED 10:23
I've did a standard coherant report, and put it up on www.marion-bartoli.net
My previous comment on this seems to have gone missing... The gist was: conditions were "quite, quite hot" but apparently tolerable (temperature less than expected), particularly for the dominant player. Vera was too cool, too strong. Marion played well enough, but couldn't punch through... Perhaps a deceptive day for over-exertion though -- Djokovic paid the price later on, with truly frightening firepower in the 1st set against Roddick, followed by an outright slugging contest. You had to have sympathy for the guy, after his late night/early morning match. To some extent, Marion probably deserved a night match, but the schedule was now Rod Laver Arena only (no Hisense Arena) and hey! surely the paycheck is cool enough!