Some of you may recall around this time last year a storm erupted between the French Tennis Federation and team Bartoli. The reason; The Federation's decision to replace Marion Bartoli as the national number 1, in contradiction to the WTA Tour rankings. The decision was viewed among Bartoli fans as a deliberate snub by (outgoing) elements within the Federation.

This year has ushered a new regime at Federation headquarters, and a welcome change to the elite ranking system. The Federation has sensibly decided to synchronise domestic ranking with the rhythm of the WTA Tour calendar. Instead of being decided in September like last year, elite national ranking will be announced in December this year.

Translated into English, the statement on the Federation website explains,

The ranking.. in 2010 has been validated by the Federal Bureau on 9 October. Until the first five positions are adopted on 4 December.

A little patience.. If we know the identity of the club members of five of the first set, we do not yet know their exact rank. Since this new sports season 2010, the hierarchy of top five players will be determined at the end of the international season ..Thus the ranking French and world rankings coincide perfectly.

It is known that the top five will consist of alphabetically ..Marion Bartoli, Alize Cornet, Amélie Mauresmo, Virginie Razzano and Aravane Rezai. It (just) remains to know the order.

The French press now universally refer to Marion Bartoli as the French Number 1.

The Federation's ranking designation may largely be of symbolic value, but symbols can be powerful gestures, and we watch with interest for the announcement due in December. Even if for example Aravane Rezai wins Bali, it is inconcievable that the Federation could reach any other decision than to select Marion Bartoli as national number 1, on the basis of the year as a whole, and on the basis of being the player most likely to spearhead the challenge of the French on the professional tour in 2010.

Toray Pan Pacific Open Tennis - Day 5

Bartoli tough as old boots.. a shoo in for the national number 1 spot

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Recent Blog Polls

Poll No.5, 27 Oct - Nov 3

Q. Which player will be champion in Bali? 61 votes were cast as follows

Bartoli 46 VOTES 75%
Lisicki 4 VOTES 7%
Stosur 3 VOTES 5%
Wickmayer 3 VOTES 5%
Date-Krumm 1 VOTE 2%
Medina-Garrigues 1 VOTE 2%
Martinez Sanchez 1 VOTE 2%
Peer 1 VOTE 2%
Rybarikova 1 VOTE 2%
Czink 0 VOTES 0%
Szavay 0 VOTES 0%
Rezai 0 VOTES 0%

(Result of Poll No.4 - 19-26 Oct)

Will Marion Bartoli win the Commonwealth Bank Tournament Of Champions In Bali?

27 VOTES 82% YES
6 VOTES 18% NO

In future, the previous week's poll will be placed within a new post, and allowed to drop down the blog. Each poll will be accessible by a menu link soon.

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(Result of Poll No.3 - 12-19 Oct)


High Approval Rating For Team Bartoli

39 VOTES - (89%) – Marion’s level of play is higher in 2009 than in 2007
5 VOTES - (11%) – Marion’s level of play is lower in 2009 than in 2007

Well, ok, with just 44 votes, that headline is pushing it a bit I know.. But nevertheless you clearly feel Marion’s level of play this year has been consistently higher than in her Wimbledon final year. The outcome of this poll can not only be considered an endorsement of Marion the player, but also of her coach and father Walter. He has guided her through a radical new service motion and a newfound freedom of movement around court.

"I'm more experienced since that Wimbledon final”, said Marion recently, "I've grown a lot and know what to do on big points. I've improved my movement a lot”.

As for her serve she say's, "I can push off the ground harder. I've worked on being able to serve with my legs for two years. I wasn't able to do that before."

Marion hasn’t made a grand slam final appearance this year, but she has won two titles and reached the final of another, achieved a quarter final at the Australian Open and a shed-load of good wins over the course of 2009. Marion Bartoli has shown she is tough as old boots and has refused to be washed away like some watery one hit wonder. Today Marion has risen to No.11 in singles and over the past four years stamped her name firmly upon the top 20 leader-board. She has dug her heels in and said I am here to stay, and is hot on the heels of a top 10 return.

I’m sure wherever you are, you will be getting right behind Marion during Bali. It’s conceivable she could finish the season by returning to the top 10, and if that happens, man, it would be richly deserved.