Marion Bartoli - 2006 Japan Open Champion
HP Japan Open - Tournament & Match Preview
"Japan has a special place in my heart because one of the first trips I made overseas as a junior was to Hiroshima for team championships, then to Osaka for a juniors championship. My cousin lives here and speaks Japanese. Also, I have some Japanese friends who speak French, so I have been very well looked after over the years whenever I come here."
Marion speaking on the eve of winning the Japan Open in October 2006
A Special Place
In light of Marion's obvious personal fondness for Japan, and the happy memories she has from winning her 2nd tour title at the Japan Open in 2006, it is easy to see why Marion should relish returning to this country for the 2nd time in the space of three weeks.. and of course, Sushi is her favorite food!
Instinctively ambitious and competitive, Marion play's tournaments to win them, that's what she's about, and that's what she'll be trying to do this week in the land of the rising sun.
There are nice photo’s of Marion holding the delightfully dumpy Japan Open trophy in 2006. She cradles the big silvery shiny thing like it’s mama’s baba, and you can see mama’s face reflect back from its glowing silvery cheeks! That would be baba No.2. And if she wins this week it will be baba No.6............ Oh but you mustn’t forget the twins.... yes of course the three doubles titles she has won. 
The Draw
This year the Japan Open is held in the city of Osaka. US Open finalist Caroline Wozniacki is the top seed, and Marion is the 2nd seed. This means that they occupy opposite ends of the draw and cannot meet before the final of this $220,000 International level event.
Studying her section of the draw, Marion, who incidentally features on the HP Open website banner, could scarcely have been dealt a tougher hand for a 32 player international event. Contiguous are Shahar Peer*, who has enjoyed a superb end of season surge for Bali, with back to back titles at Guangzhou and Tashkent, but against Sania Mirza she is certainly no shoe-in for the next round. There is also the persistent Francesca Schiavone, bete noir for many a season, including this year's Wimbledon.
If Marion can replicate the same determination and never-say-die attitude as she dispayed against Zvonareva last week, and match-point-down against Jankovic at Stanford, then she can do well against this week's potential opposition Peer and Schiavone, who are both from a not disimilar branch of tennis as Jankovic and Zvonareva.
G. Voskoboeva [KAZ] v M. Bartoli FRA]
First up for Marion is 24 year old Galina Voskoboeva. Marion beat the Russian born player in straight sets at last years US Open. However, propelled by a career best 3rd round grand slam finish at the Australian Open, Voskoboeva reached a career high ranking of 64 earlier this year and enjoyed a solid season on clay including a win over the hard hitting Sania Mirza at the French Open.
Placing emphasis on greater practice and conditioning, Voskoboeva told the Tashkent Open last month, "it’s true I’ve lost some weight and looking trimmer. I’ve not done anything on purpose, but see life’s very hard, a lot of hard work has gone in and that’s probably the reason."
But following an indifferent few months she reflects, "probably I made mistakes in my preparations, I thought I was ready for tournaments, but needed to practice more. We took a break and worked on the game, I’m sure that the remaining year will see me back on track,"
Voskoboeva is also one of a number of players who have switched nationality and now play under the Khazakstani flag.
"I was born in Russia, but now playing for Kazakhstan, but because of my move I’m having more opportunities to represent the country at team events like the Fed Cup. Kazakhstan has accepted me and I truly would like to say I’m overwhelmed by their hospitality."
If ranking and recent history hold true, then Marion will look to come through this one unscathed. Three tournaments in three weeks is a lot of tennis and a lot of air miles, but Marion has responded positively, and like tomorrow's opponent, is determined to end her season on as high note as possible, Let's hope Marion can follow up Jo-Wilfried Tsonga's win in Tokyo, and give the French a magnificent 2009 Japan Open double.
Galina Voskoboeva (cc 3.0 paddynapper)
Tuesday's Schedule
Play starts 10AM, Marion's match with Voskoboeva is fourth in the order of play, on Center Court.
* Mirza beat Peer over three sets
Awww, I love Japan so im happy Marion does too. Dangerous draw but with Peer gone its looking safer, now someone just needs to beat Schiavone.
Galina shouldnt be too much trouble. I think Marion will take this tournament seriously enough, tired or not.