AEGON International
Eastbourne
Round 2

Match summary to follow.

A fine straight sets win over former world number 5 Anna Chakvetadze deservedly takes Marion into the last eight of the AEGON International at Eastbourne, and a step closer to a top ten ranking.

As with previous Bartoli-Chakvetadze encounters this match was littered with service breaks. Marion broke in the opening game of the match, but by mid set she was down 4-2.

Despite a high level of Chakvetadze first serves in over the opening set, Marion was still able to win a high number of points from the Russians service games - showing that Marion has the grass court know how.

A Chakvetadze double fault on game point and the set was all level at 4-4.

With Chakvetadze having to serve to stay in the set, Marion showed how important it is to seize your opportunities in tennis by breaking her opponent to love, and win the set 7-5.

At 3-2 in the 2nd set a long delay occured mid-game, Marion is reported to have recieved some medical attention to her foot.

When play resumed Marion quickly broke for a 4-2 lead, and held to love with a 2nd serve ace on game point for a 5-2 lead.

Again Serving to stay in the match, Anna Chakvetadze showed courage to fight off three match points, and reduce the deficit to 3-5.

They say that seven is the number of cosmic completion... well some Bartoli fans must have felt like they had been to outer space and back as it took fully 7(SEVEN) match points before Marion finally sealed the match.

Matches between these two in the past have been of epic proportions, and although this one didn't go the full distance today, the crowd certainly got their money's worth out of this long and keenly contested two set match.

Opening her grasscourt season with fine back to back straight set wins, the lady today seeded 12 for Wimbledon is showing she is one of the most formidable grass court players in tennis. She may be 12 in the world overall, but if there was a grass specific ranking, Marion would doubtless be ranked much higher than 12.

Last year's semi finalist in Eastbourne will play the winner of the match between Sybille Bammer of Austria and Spanish rising star Anabel Medina Garriguez. Marion crushed Bammer in Eastbourne last year 6-0 6-3, and without question she is a leading contender to take the debut AEGON International title.

Update 22:30

“The match was really tough physically and mentally but I think physically at the end I was a little bit better than her,” said world No.12 Bartoli.

“I played some really great points at tough times. Grass is definitely my best surface. The faster the court the better I play and this year I’m a lot fitter than last year. If I can believe in myself I think I can go far.”

Marion's thoughts following her win today. (Courtesy of LTA)

STATISTICS

On Serve Stats

AC MB

Aces 2 4
Double faults 2 0
1st serve % 71% 68%
1st serve points won 52% 62%
2nd serve points won 43% 48%
Break points saved 9/14 7/10
Service games played 10 11

On Return Stats

1st return points won 38% 48%
2nd return points won 52% 57%
Break points won 3/10 5/14
Return games played 11 10

On points

Total service points won 49% 58%
Total return points won 42% 51%
Total points won 46% 54%

Duration 1: 49: 08

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