Marion Bartoli Fan Blog

Paradise Lost But Progress Made

Sun, 08 Nov 2009 15:29:57 +0100

Commonwealth Bank Tournament Of Champions
Bali International Convention Center
Nusa Dua, Bali, Indonesia
FINAL

Unfortunately Marion was forced to retire from her match with compatriot Aravane Rezai, in the final of the Commonwealth Bank Tournament Of Champions in Bali. As a consequence Rezai claims her 2nd title of the year and Marion Bartoli Fan Blog extends congratulations to her on a fine achievement.

Match

Both players began brightly, with the French Number 1 taking a grip of the set with a break in the 5th game - a set characterised by candid, powerful, free-flowing tennis.

Serving to stay in the set at 5-3, Rezai held off one set point.

Back on serve at 6-5, Marion seemed to land awkwardly as she chased down a ball at 15-30. A medical time out followed, and once again that problematic upper quadricep was attended to. In evident discomfort, Marion tried to resume play, But double faulted on set point.

Now limping and in a state of some distress, Marion was unable to continue and retired from the match.

Evoking heartbreaking memories of the 2008 Stanford Final, a tearful Marion sat slumped in the chair prior to the prize giving ceremony.

Heartbreak

It is a tough way for Marion Bartoli to end a marvellous season, after all the hard work both she and her father have put in these past 12 months. A double blow after having narrowly lost out on a place at the lucrative Year Ending Championships in Doha in a similar manner.

Team Bartoli could be forgiven for wondering what they have to do break the top 10 having come so close on several occasions this year.

Finishing 2008 in 17th place after an illness blighted year, Marion recovered well in 2009, climbing to 11th place in the rankings by February - a figure which she has revisited on two other occasions this season. It looks like Marion will now miss out on a much anticipated return to the top 10 by just one place and a mere handful of points.

Support

Marion will understandably feel the sense of disappointment keenly at this time, but she can count on the support of one of the ever-present rocks of her life, coach and father Walter Bartoli. As he explained recently, "from my standpoint it’s very important to help her when something bad has happened to her, or she's injured, or she's got too much protection because she lost a match. She find me when she needs me ..I think it's not to be too expansive when she's winning a match, but to be there when she's on the wrong part of her life, and I'm here every time."

In acknowledgment of this, Marion said today "I have to thank one person - my dad. Thank you so much, daddy. My leg was hurting and I tried my best to carry on, but it was too much pain. I'm sorry I wasn't able to finish today." She also congratulated her opponent, "I'd like to congratulate Aravane on the wonderful week she had. She played some great tennis. I'd like to thank Sony Ericsson for making this tour possible, and to Commonwealth Bank for this wonderful tournament."

Progress

Hopefully after a few days, once the disappointment has subsided, Marion can look back at this exhausting yet rewarding season 2009 with a significant level of satisfaction. Breaking the top 10 of course would have been nice, but it is after all just a number. Materially all you can say about number 9, or number 10, is that it is statement of PROGRESS, and if progress be the real measure of achievement, then Marion has without question moved onward and upward - Ending the season at minimum six places higher than last season. Considering many were writing her top 20 obituary at the end of last season in their reviews and previews, as a fan I now have no hesitation in shouting from the rooftops that Marion is a good player and Marion Bartoli has proven many many people wrong.

Nine, ten, eleven, whatever, Marion has proven her point this season. Team Bartoli have made improvements in court movement and serve, while retaining the distinctive bases of the Bartoli game. And with outstanding wins over Venus Williams, twice over Jelena Jankovic, and purging herself of old foes such as Vera Zvonareva and Shahar Peer.. Marion Bartoli has made her presence felt strongly on the wonderful world of the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour. Not only this, but she has reached FOUR tour finals, winning two of them - a sad irony that it had to be in the first and last tournaments of the year that Marion came off as losing finalist.. "ruthless symmetry?".

Only Marion can say whether that little bit of added pressure and hype today caused her to commit herself just that little bit more than was advised at the end of the first set - precipitating the injury. No matter, the French number 1 has brought her fans a great deal of pleasure and satisfaction by her terrific effort this season.

Some applause for the lady please.

Photo of disappointed Marion with runner up trophy.

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UPDATE

Marion has since shed some light on what happened (commbanktennis.com),

"I started to feel my leg was pretty tight in the middle of the set," she said. "I started to feel some pain all over my quads and I thought maybe it was the stress and no reason to be serious. But then it hurt me a lot, especially each time I had to push and put some weight onto my left leg it was really getting worse and worse and at the end I couldn’t continue.

"It was a good match and I’m very sad to finish like this. The last thing you want to do is injury yourself in the last match of the season. But what can you do? I was trying my best and perhaps it was just too much."

She will now return home, and will not pick up a racquet for the next three weeks as she allows the injury to heal.'

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Italiano / Francais

A note to visitors who use translation tools, some posts are not displaying until after a delay, sometimes of many hours.

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M. Bartoli bt K. Date-Krumm 6-1 6-3

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 09:09:10 +0100

Commonwealth Bank Tournament Of Champions
Bali International Convention Center
Nusa Dua, Bali, Indonesia
SEMI FINAL

All French Affair Set Up For Bali Showdown

Marion Bartoli today reached her fourth WTA final of the year by defeating Kimiko Date-Krumm, and in doing so, set up an all French final with Aravane Rezai at the inaugural Commonwealth Bank Tournament Of Champions in Bali.

The French number 1 secured a break to 30 in the opening game of the match, and then continued in scintillating style with three consecutive aces to send out a message in no uncertain terms that she was aiming to be the ace player on court today. Marion sealed the game and a 2-0 lead with a winner produced from her first serve.

The former top 5 ranked Date-Krumm lost another break, but immediately retrieved the break to get on the scoreboard at 3-1. However this was simply applying war paint to a battle-scarred face, as the Japanese player took just one point from the next two games for all her gallant effort.

Serving to stay in the set, the best Date-Krumm could do was apprehend Marion at deuce for a fleeting moment. But as if energised by Olympique Marseilles' 6-1 victory midweek, Marion Bartoli formed a beautiful symmetry with the ruthless arithmetic; 6-1 first set.

The 2nd set did little to alter the complexion of things as the veteran Jap's ephemeral title hopes yellowed rapidly. A 2nd set bagel looked on the cards and Marion began to fire out the aces again towards a seemingly inevitable 6-0 end. 5-0 up Marion earned a first match-point, but she was unable to convert with a forehand down the line which went wide.

Date-Krumm took this stay of execution with gratitude and glee - fighting back with skill and guts to within a point of bringing the 2nd set on serve at 5-4. However Marion held off the break point and eventually sealed the match with a 2nd match-point of the game and third match-point overall, almost half an hour after earning the first match-point. (OMG'ess..)(Bartoli)

"Until 6-1 5-1 it was absolutely perfect", said Marion, "Then Kimiko started to play really well. She was swinging freely and hitting some really great shots. It wasn’t my level going down, it was her playing too good. But I knew I just had to win one more game and that’s what I did."

Date-Krumm offered her own analysis, "I like this surface but I think she likes it more than me, and I think she likes my ball also, very flat. If I can play with more spin I think she would have more trouble, but that’s not my tennis. In the beginning I tried to hit more angles, using the backhand slice and dropshot, but her ball is very deep so it’s difficult to hit them. And I made too many mistakes, and if I didn’t hit the right angle she could attack."

It has been an infrequent occurence during the time i've been running this blog that Marion has played a player as old as I am, let alone a player three years older. So fair play to Kimiko, i'm still trying to get my head around the 'Krumm' bit, being of an age who remembers her as Kimiko Date, and with typical tennis-illiteracy at the time would have made a hazy cognitive association with another name of the era, Yayuk Bazuki.

Yours trully did however pick Kimiko to reach the semi final. So good luck to her for next season. I'm sure every tennis fan hopes that the tour enriches her life and gives her some fun and excitement over the next few years, just as her own presence has enriched the tour since coming out of retirement.

This victory positions Marion Bartoli to within one win of a top 10 return, and to within one win of a career landmark 50 wins in a season, and lastly to within one win of a third title in 2009. The opposition lain before Team Bartoli for tomorrow's deul is a certain Aravane Rezai. Marion claimed a famous even infamous victory over Rezai at the French Open in 2007, and more recently beat the Strasbourg titleholder in straight sets only last month in Tokyo. "It will be great that a Frenchwoman will win the title." observed Marion.

Marion Bartoli will deservedly start the overwhelming favorite for tomorrow's showdown, but Rezai has had a good run in Bali including a surprise upset over Sabine Lisicki. No one will be taking this casually, but if form, rank, and ability hold true, Marion will win.

Congratulations to the team on reaching yet another final. Good luck for tomorrow. With you 100%. CUMMON!!

New photos on the Slide

The evergreen Kimiko Date Krumm

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M. Bartoli bt S. Peer 6-3 6-2

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 13:05:13 +0100

Commonwealth Bank Tournament Of Champions
Bali International Convention Center
Nusa Dua, Bali
GROUP STAGE

Following her match on Wednesday Marion told reporters that the court inside Bali convention center was fast and that it required that she make some ad hoc adjustments. Nevertheless, going by results so far it's clear that Marion has taken to this surface like a duck to water, and left her group stage opponents looking like lame duck's Shahar Peer is out, and Marion Bartoli has qualified for the semi final.

On paper the case history of this Franco-Israeli contest hasn't made easy reading for those with a Bartoli bias; the head to head stood at 1-6. But no sooner have we digested that brick when we consider the head to head against Vera Zvonareva was every bit as unpromising as the one held against Peer. Last month Marion demonstrated that fundamentally her level of play is good just now and that she is possessed with an unrelenting will to win - a lady determined to show that she is a highly credible force at the top of women's tennis. She proved it by the way she came back to beat the Top 10 ranking Russian.

As for today's match, the first break came midway through the first set in Marion's favor. Yet with all due respect to the opposition, Marion always seemed the in-control player, frequently earning break points, and swatting away the slightest wiff of threat.

5-3 up, Marion won the opening set in style with a break to love. There-after Marion was like an extra in a Mad Max movie as she went on the rampage. Of course 'we don't want another hero..' one's enough. And Peer? Left looking as hapless as, well, Peer Gynt!

The service stats today where really solid from Marion, and when it came to returning first and second serves, the number 1 French was killing it. With such a fast court Peer simply wasn't getting the time on the ball or an opportunity to hypnotise another unfortunate victim with a soporific shot-fest. Peer, dependant on percentage, just wasn't getting the stats today, with less than 50% of first serves in.

Learning From The Past

Alluding to a painful reverse in Miami this year, Marion explained, "I had to stay focused until the very end of the match. I lost too many matches in three sets against Shahar, where I led by a set and with break or double-break in the second set, and where she came from nowhere to beat me." "My groundstrokes were really strong and deep and I was not doing a lot of mistakes from the baseline, and I think my power was pretty high so I was putting a lot of pressure on her. I think it helps when you hit a lot of winners and few mistakes, usually you win the match."

To be fair to Peer, her recent reverse against Mirza in Osaka, and this one today, may be symptomatic of the tiredness and fatigue felt by players at this stage of the season. It's the same for everyone though. Overall the Israeli star can take encouragement from a great performance over the second half of this year. She's on the rise again.

Redolent of that summer 2 years ago, Marion's first win in a tournament over her old pal since Wimbledon 2007 has by happy coincidence drawn her towards the cusp of the top 10 once again. Two more wins and its job done. She'll do her best - that's her covenant!

Talkin' Up The Tennis

In a week of challenging headlines and negative publicity surrounding the sport of tennis, it is all too tempting to yield to the leaven of cynicism. But you know, whoever wins the title this weekend will have a remarkable cynicism-busting story to tell, especially true of Marion and Kimiko Date. There are a lot of good people working very hard to try to make tennis a viable, sustainable, vital, and integral fabric of our global sporting culture, or if that sounds a bit too high fluting; simply set a positive example in life as a role-model. A few days ago Kimiko said, “I want to show to the tsunami and earthquake victims here that it's never too late to restart your life, just like what I've done.” To some that might sound like pretentious cods wallop, but I don' think so - at 39 years old and a former world number 4, Kimiko Date has nothing to prove to anyone. She didn't have to do this. Her partner is a racing driver, and wants not for cash. She didn't have to expose herself to potential ridicule by coming back or tarnish her legacy. But she has done so for the simple love of the sport and also to give something back to it. She is a great role model and her story can inspire and catalyse people. Just as Marion's story has done. What Marion, Kimiko, and all the other hero's do has altruistic and motivational spin-offs, which sometimes gets ignored by the press clamor for the latest manky drama, and suppressed by the media hyperbole that follows.

Of course, It would be unfair and plain daft to attribute all ills to the media, because there is light and shade in that scene just as there is in all walks of life. My appeal as a fan is simply that we don't forget the good stuff about tennis, especially women's tennis. It has a lot to offer and a lot of good going for it. So chin up, keep smiling, talk up the sport.

Just indulge me a bit more sugary Eurovosion.... As the Slide song goes.. Don’t forget to look ahead.. See what you will find..

*The scoreboard stopped working just before this.

Match Statistics

Player M Bartoli FRA S Peer ISR Aces 1 1 Double Faults 2 2 1st Serve % 67% 49% 1st Serve Pts Won 72% 58% 2nd Serve Pts Won 69% 41% Break Points Saved 2/2 5/9 Service Games Played 8 9 1st Serve Return Pts Won 42% 28% 2nd Serve Return Pts Won 59% 31% Break Points Won 4/9 0/2 Return Games Played 9 8 Total Service Pts Won 71% 49% Total Return Pts Won 51% 29% Total Pts Win 60% 40% Duration 1hr 16mins 14secs Fan Blog Moodset

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M. Bartoli bt M. Rybarikova 6-4 6-4

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 13:43:27 +0100

Commonwealth Bank Tournament Of Champions
Nusa Dua, Bali
GROUP STAGE

No Dilli Dallying By Bartoli in Bali

Indoor courts can have the same variables as their outdoor equivalents, some are carpet, some are hard, some even clay following this year’s innovation at Stuttgart. Yet even among the hard indoor variety there is a multiplicity of variables in terms of speed, movement, and bounce.

One of the blog's astute visitors commented that the speed of the indoor court will be a benefit to Marion in this tournament, and if the outcome of this result is anything to go by, then this observation is right on the ball. Yet it seems even for Marion Bartoli, a veritable connoisseur of fast hard court tennis, still had to hit the ground running today. "The conditions were pretty difficult because the court is very fast and it’s not easy to get used to it." She said after the match "There is only the one court and we are 12 players so you can’t get a lot of time to practise on it. And it’s the end of the year and everyone is tired so it’s not easy."

Winning the first eight points of the match to rush into a 2-0 lead, Marion's opponent quickly levelled the score at 2-2. The tournament’s top ranking player immediately seized the initiative again for a 4-2 lead. Facing little challenge in point scoring terms, Marion retained a one break lead and served the set out confidently, 6-4.

As the match progressed, the talented young Slovakian really began to find her feet, and nothing separated either player for most of the set, but the French number 1 almost shot herself in the foot with consecutive double faults in the 7th game - she survived.

Marion's opponent served up some big shots in the next game, with aces and a double fault. Yet after returning to deuce three times, Rybarikova's battle royale ended in a surrender of a break at a highly critical juncture of the match. 5-4

The Monterrey and Stanford titleholder made no mistake as she wrapped up the contest with her first match point, winning the final game to 30 for a 6-4 6-4 scoreline.

"I’m really happy to win in two sets. I was quite happy with the level of the game. But I’m really pleased to be part of this tournament. It’s a great one to finish the year and I will really try my best to finish well."

A great pledge and a great result today from Marion. Magdalena Rybarikova has offered stiff and powerful resistance to Marion throughout their four contests, so this win can only help keep Marion's confidence high.

One thing we have learned from the results on day 1 of the Commonwealth Bank Tournament Of Champions is the positive statement made about the competitive depth of women's tennis; Firstly, there was an upset with Marion's compatriot Aravane Rezai beating the much fancied Sabine Lisicki. Then Kimiko Date-Krumm can consider herself a little agrieved at losing the first set in a tie break (5) against the ascendant Belgian, Yanina Wickmayer. The Belgian then broke away at 3-3 in the 2nd set, but not before the much admired veteran gave the girl less than half her age something to think about. Lastly Agnes Szavay took another high flying filly Sam Stosur to three sets before the Aussie finally put the Hungie away, and so wrap up the evening’s entertainment at the Bali convention center.

Last week yours truly clumsily drew some arbitrary line between the top players in Bali and the others. But in actual fact the intrinsic set up of this tournament distinguishes it from all other tournaments except Doha YEC. The concept of this tournament forms a convincing showcase of all that's good and all that's promising in women's tennis today. That's why this tournament is arranged as a round robin mini league, instead of a pyramid model, ie; with one win and your through, or one loss and your eliminated.

Every player in Bali this week has a tangible opportunity to take home another trophy to add to the one or more they have each won this season already. This event seems to be shaping up as nice addition to the tour calendar.

Tomorrow's group match sees Peer take on Rybarikova, and Marion play next on Friday

Don't forget to check the twitter feed. Lots of interesting stuff coming through the wires today., and chack out the tournament website who have put up another gallery of excellent photos.

Match Statistics

Player M Bartoli FRA M Rybarikova SVK Aces 1 5 Double Faults 4 4 1st Serve % 58% 58% 1st Serve Pts Won 68% 64% 2nd Serve Pts Won 68% 40% Break Points Saved 1/2 6/9 Service Games Played 10 10 1st Serve Return Pts Won 36% 32% 2nd Serve Return Pts Won 60% 32% Break Points Won 3/9 1/2 Return Games Played 10 10 Total Service Pts Won 68% 54% Total Return Pts Won 46% 32% Total Pts Win 56% 44% Duration 1hr 38mins 01secs Fan Blog Moodset

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Commonwealth Bank Tournament Of Champions Preview

Sat, 31 Oct 2009 04:08:55 +0100

GROUP A GROUP B GROUP C GROUP D M Bartoli FRA
S Peer ISR
M Rybarikova SVK S Stsour AUS
M J Martinez Sanchez ESP
A Szavay HUN

Y Wickmayer BEL
A Medina Garrigues ESP
K Date-Krumm JPN

S Lisicki GER
M Czink HUN
A Rezai FRA

Commonwealth Bank Tournament Of Champions
Bali International Convention Center
4-8 Nov 2009
Nusa Dua, Bali, Indonesia
WTA $600,000
Surface – Indoor Hard
Format – 12 player round robin (4 groups of 3 players)

FULL PREVIEW

TIGNOR'S TAKE - On his blog last month Steve Tignor recognised how Marion "Bartoli had what looked like a promising summer stolen away by Kim Clijsters, who beat her at two tournaments, one of which was the U.S. Open. Now that Clijsters is safely back at home, maybe Bartoli can pick up where she left off in Stanford."

RECOVERY – With a quarter final in Tokyo and semi final in Beijing, Marion has indeed recovered well from the Clijsters double-wammy. Even before the season has came to a close you can see from the graph below, Marion has performed better this season compared with the other seasons she has been a top 20 player. A statistic which corroborates the result of a recent blog poll about Marion’s level of play.

FATIGUE - However during her most recent tournament in Osaka she complained of having "a little tendinitis that I had already had at Stanford," explaining that, "The end of season is hard for girls who, like me, have much heavier ball. I hope to recuperate." (L'Equipe) The following day the French number 1 retired from her match with Sania Mirza, this time with a painful shoulder tendon problem.

With a whole month between the end of the US Open and the start of the Toray Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo, you may ask how Marion could feel such tiredness and fatigue? The answer is when you are a professional athlete you always have to maintain your condition, a state of readiness. Even between tournaments it is always defcon 4 with team Bartoli, and defcon 5 when noble hostilities resume. So there is never really any off-time in the literal sense.

LA BIDASSE EN BALI - Now, nearing the end of this season’s battle, the walking wounded soldiers on bravely. Hero and all that. It's therefore quite appropriate that the tennis season should end in paradise! The provincial coastal idyll of Bali has a vibrant cultural life, terrific appetite for leisure and sporting interests, and a renowned reputation for welcoming visitors from all around the world. With its gently lapping waves and beach lifestyle Bali is a suitable final tour stop for la bidasse Bartoli, but she isn't there to convalecse.. The outdoor forecast for the next five days is 32c, and the competition at the Bali Convention Center in Nusa Dua is sure to be hot come the start of the tournament on Wednesday. As for the indoor forecast; Stosur, Wickmayer, Peer, and Lisicki look to be main challengers to Marion Bartoli. However the 2006 runner up enters the reincarnated Commonwealth Bank event as the top ranked player this time, and overwhelming favorite to win the title according to blog visitors. Let's now take a look at four potential obstacles in Marion's path..

SAM STOSUR - is fresh from winning her first singles title and has enjoyed a great year, which included a semi final finish at the French Open. Upon taking the title in Osaka, Stosur beamed, “My next goal is to reach the top 10 for which I would need to play like today, every day.”

Her manager Paul Kilderry thinks, “If she can maintain that consistency I think it’s just a matter of time.” Osaka is “the culmination of a great year", reflected Kilderry. "..obviously her ranking and her level of play’s been very consistent from the start of the year and it’s a nice reward for a lot of hard work." Stosur's website,

At Stanford Marion pointed out Stosur is a player on the rise, a player with a huge serve, and a player in the running for a place in the top 10. Marion showed guts to beat Stosur that week over three sets.

After recovering from illness in 2008, Stosur is clearly hungry and motivated to realise her ambition.
HEAD TO HEAD 1-1

YANINA WICKMAYER - How can a player on the margins of the top 100 start the year so horribly with 5 consecutive defeats, then go on to win two maiden titles, enjoy a semi final finish at the US Open, and break into the top 20? Granted, the Belgian avoided all the marquee players in New York right until the semi final.

It's all the more remarkable given the lack of stability in her coaching set up. In the past 12 months Wickmayer has experimented with Dutch coach Glen Schapp, and Justine's Henin's long-time coach Carlos Rodriguez. She has also worked with former Belgian pro Ann Devries, and been a sparring partner with Flemmish friend Kim Clijsters (source; Wickmayer's website), yet according to wikipedia Wickmayer remains without a coach.

It's impressive how Wickmayer has thrived without the guidance and support of a regular coach. But if the independent way works for her, then power to her. Even if the substance underlying her sudden success is a mystery, her form can certainly be considered every bit as amazing as that shown by fellow Belgian Kim Clijsters. We monitor her progress with interest.
HEAD TO HEAD 0-0

SABINE LISICKI - Yes she will be vaunted as the glamor puss of Bali (very bored), and yes she enters the tournament by the backdoor courtesy of a wildcard, but be in no doubt the big German is serious beast in tennis terms, and totally merits the wildcard offered her. Last week she reached the final in Luxembourg. She has also reached the quarter final stage at Wimbledon, and blew away a bevvy of top names to take her maiden title in Charleston - A premier tournament at that. She beat Venus, Marion, and Wozniacki en route, her serve exceeding speeds previously set by Venus Williams. Lisicki seems a more fierce-some player now than the one I watched lose to Marion at Wimbledon last year.

Such physical commitment can be punishing on the body, "Before the US Open I injured my shoulder" she wrote last week in her Sony Ericsson WTA Tour player blog, "..there was a big question mark over whether I'd even play there, but four days before I was able to start practicing again, so I was able to go. Unfortunately I twisted my ankle during my match there, and then I got food poisoning in China a few weeks ago too. But I'm a fighter and I never let those things break me down."
HEAD TO HEAD 1-1

SHAHAR PEER - Not considered a top contender to take the title in Bali, but a player from our perspective who always hassles Marion, and preferably one to be avoided in the group stage. She has great stamina, will dig deep no matter the score-line, and hang in there waiting for her opponent to finally crack, fall, and wail before the wall - the counterpuncher - A percentage and error inducing player. Trouble.. in the nicest posible sense.

Recalling the diplomatic incident that arose earlier this year, Peer told the Jerusalem Post of her relief to receive a visa this time, "I'm happy this issue has been settled and that I can play in Bali, "I'm looking forward to this event and I'm especially pleased with the fact that the Dubai scandal did not repeat itself." Although predominantly Hindu, Bali is a small province within the much larger and generally benign Islamic country of Indonesia.

Since the fall-out from said "scandal" subsided, Peer has finally been able to focus on her tennis and move up the rankings a bit. The former world number 17 has still a bit of ground to make up to get to the ranking she had in 2007 and 2006, but with back to back titles in Guangzhou and Tashkent she has every right to feel she can do well here and go all the way. Her recent form is certainly suggestive of dark horse material at the very least, or Trojan horse were Bartolian ambitions are concerned. Real threat.
HEAD TO HEAD 1-6

THE PELETON - Turning to the other players playing Bali, the two Spaniard's Anabel Medina Garrigues and Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez will firstly be pleased simply to have qualified for this great event. However both players typically play their best tennis on clay and look outsiders for the title. Magdalena Rybarikova has long maintained that she plays her best tennis on grass, she proved this In June by winning Birmingham and thus qualify for Bali. Aravane Rezai qualifies virtue of her unexpected win in Strasbourg and recently lost in straight sets to Marion in Tokyo. Melinda Czink and Agnes Szavay lead a surprise and very welcome Magyar contingent in Bali. On the cusp of the top 10 just over a year ago, Szavay has shown signs of apprehending her calamitous ranking reversal, while Czink is enjoying the best season of her long and winding career, including a debut title in Quebec.

KIMIKO DATE-KRUMM - is the last card in the pack, the 39 year old Japanese ace recently returned to professional tennis after an absence of 12 years, and became 2nd oldest player in tour history to win a title when she took the Hansol Open in Korea. "Maybe some people think it's too crazy, but I'm enjoying a lot," Date Krumm said during the LA Women's Tennis Championships. "For me it's not only for the ranking or always to win the tournament. It's just to enjoy life. Before when I play, after losing it was like everything finished. Now I have more wide views."

Not only is Date-Krumm the player who has held the highest rank of all assembled players in Bali (No.4 1996), but more recently gave US Open finalist Caroline Wozniacki a torrid time at Wimbledon before finally going down in three sets, also narrowly losing to Lisicki in a close three setter in LA. She has stood up well against two of the biggest draws in women’s tennis today.

Date-Krumm doesn't do brutal cannon-power tennis, her dying craft is more that of a swords-woman, with net surges and forehand jabs, it's tactile tennis, and by this she will win, she will lose, she will live, she will die. That's her game. Her 'classic' forehand technique is a point of curiosity for some.

"Everybody hits harder, more powerful, more speedy," she said. "A long time ago, in my generation, everybody was using more the head and more the tactics, and tennis I think was more interesting to watch and play. Now everybody says my style is old style, but I don't care. It's working so I don't care." It's the kind of commendable individualism and defiance which has also characterised team Bartoli over the years. So fans of Marion can easily find grounds of affinity and respect for the way Date-Krumm is doing things on her own terms, and why not.

Date-Krumm is rank outsider to lift the tournament, but will be the sentimental favorite in Bali for sure. She's my pick for a semi final place.

PRIDE – So to wrap things up, whatever the outcome of this tournament Marion Bartoli Fan Blog has PRIDE in the terrific effort and results Marion Bartoli has submitted this year. To be in with a chance of returning to the Top 10 after the Clijsters rumble and "catastrophic" spring hard court season is just marvellous. She is strong in 2009, and if fit this coming week, has the arsenal to deal with all her opponents and be crowned champion of champions.

CELEBRATE - Bali is of course a great place to celebrate spirituality, with its fine temples, and veneration of the gods and goddesses. Let’s look forward to our very own goddess having something to celebrate next week. Let’s do this Marion. I believe in you.

Marion Bartoli 2006 Bali runner up, and Svetlana Kuznetsova winner

Vera Dushevina is the reserve player
*Bidasse means soldier

Comments

Federation Set To Announce Elite Ranking In December

Wed, 21 Oct 2009 15:56:29 +0200

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.

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.

Comments

S. Mirza bt M. Bartoli by Retirement

Fri, 16 Oct 2009 05:45:12 +0200

HP Japan Women's Open 2009
Osaka
WTA - $220,000

Quarter Final

Doha Hopes Deferred As Brave Marion Succumbs To Injury

Marion retired at 4-6 0-2. As expected, it was a tough hard fought first set. Marion was getting a high percentage of first serves in, close to 70%. She had 0-40 on Sania's serve at least twice in the match, but couldn't convert. Sania was up for this, while Marion's performance was impaired right from the start by a shoulder problem.

So no trip to Doha, Marion said that she just wants to be ready for her next tournament. This means that her courageous last gasp attempt to reach the Year Ending Championships in Doha has unfortunately not met with success this year. Of her injury she explains, "It's a problem with a tendon in my right shoulder. I felt it from the first point, but hadn't felt anything before, I'm very disappointed but I'm also in a lot of pain."

It's the intention of the French number 1 to be ready for the season finale in Bali on Nov 4, "I'll rest for a while so I'm in the best shape for my next tournament, the Commonwealth Bank Tournament of Champions in Bali." With lots of ranking points up for grabs and the chance to win another trophy, Marion will have a great opportunity to end her season on a high note.

(Quotes from Sony Ericsson WTA Tour)

Hope your shoulder heals soon Marion, and that any pain or discomfort you are in will soon ease. Your galant attempt to reach Doha has been impressive. Looking forward to Bali. Proud of Team Bartoli.

Bartoli Equipe

Comments

Watching Sania Mirza

Thu, 15 Oct 2009 16:17:24 +0200

Sania Mirza and Shahar Peer 2007

Mirza - Peer

Recently engaged Sania Mirza hasn't had a whole lot to get excited about on court this season, her double bagel loss against Pennetta at the US Open, not one which the Indian super-star would care to remember. Yet a great win the other day over in-form Shahar Peer has sparked a little late season revival in Mirza's fortunes.

Seeing a tie between Mirza and Peer emerge so early in the draw of this formerly tier III event, signals how the 'mighty' Mirza and counter-punching Peer currently punch below their weight in ranking terms.

Close friends and doubles partners through the years and across cultural divide, it was at this very tournament four years ago that the Israeli Peer and Muslim Mirza teamed up for the first time. However due to the militant fury that followed, Mirza was forced to put the partnership on ice for some 2 years.

"We've known each other for five or six years. We were playing juniors together and we're about the same age," Mirza said in 2007, "It helps when you're playing with a friend. You know their personality on court and off the court and you know how they're going to react to certain things."

It is maybe this chemistry and insight which acted as the invisible arbitar of Wednesday's match between Peer and Mirza, and the fine result Mirza achieved. But with only a final in Pattaya City, this year in singles hasn't provided much to satisfy the bloated appetite of Mirza's loyal even fanatical global fan following. In doubles it has been a different story - winning the mixed doubles title partnered by Mahesh Bhupathi at this year's Australian Open.

Wimbledon 2009

Peeking over a jam packed court 18 at Wimbledon on the 2nd Monday, I got a feel for the fervent following Mirza attracts, it was the dim of the evening, and it seemed like if you weren't up on Henman Hill watching Murray on the big screen then you were packed into court 18 like sardines.. that was just for a doubles match involving Mirza, but frankly it's a great thing to see. If this is how people of Asian or Muslim origin embrace the sport of tennis when they have a role model like Sania Mirza to identify with, then this is what tennis needs in order to flourish in future. Wimbledon is great, the tradition is great, but sometimes a little shake up, a little innovation and diversity is no bad thing. Yes tennis in many ways is one of the most cosmopolitan and open-minded sports of all, but it is still quite gated in socio-economic terms. Chip on the shoulder is of course not a nice characteristic, yet it's fair to say tennis in the west remains a largely educated or middle class peoples sport, intensely true of class-conscious UK. So the more the sport encourages racial and cultural diversity (Williams sisters case in point), the more it will give access to people from a variety of socio-economic backgrounds.

Although from a comfortable background, Sania Mirza still has had to challenge perceptions and stereotypes, "Coming from India, you have no tradition of female tennis players, and people thought I was stupid. However, in India, it's not like every girl has to become a doctor or a lawyer - they can be anything they want, and I knew that this was right."

And rightly, Mirza points out the bottom line is it's all about merit, "As a person, you earn the respect you get by working hard and giving your best, and people appreciate it - being a sportsperson is the same, it makes no difference if you're a man or a woman."

You can see Sania is nobody's pushover, yet still retains that i'm just a nice Indian girl quality. She has faced controversy over the percieved immodesty of her own bog-standard court attire, controversy over supposed disrespect towards the Indian flag, and hassle over playing with an Israeli. But Sania's cool. She's dealt with it all. We should all be glad that Sania Mirza never carried through her threat to quit the sport.

Wimbledon 2005

After some research today, I discovered that it was Wimbledon 2005 that I first seen Mirza play (on tv), That day she lost to Kuznetsova on one of the show courts, but I was really impressed by her fierce some play - she was a sort of proto-Beastie! (this was in the days before the enlightenment you see, two years almost before seeing hero-face). I was like, yeh'man I like all this thing, what is this, it's like MIA with a tennis racquet, galang galang, bang bang, 2nd set, thank you very much. That was 2005.. in the days before MIA and Estelle sold out.. least Shystie didn't follow suit.. ahh nostalgia.. what do they say about nostalgia....

Anyway, It was just great to see a young Asian girl playing at Wimbledon. It was unusual, the way she just attacked the whole occasion like a chav to a curry - she was right in there, and unlucky to lose on the day. Great stuff.

Sania Mirza v Marion Bartoli

Two months after this she beat Marion at the US Open in straight sets. Both ranked in the low forties at the time, a match which remains their only head to head. How their respective tennis careers have diverged since that time.

This will be a tough match. The hardest match up Marion has faced so far this week in Osaka. Mirza, always aggressive, vicious forehand, fight to the last point kind of player, always a tough competitor. Marion, instinctively aggressive, running better, backhand stronger shot. Serve better and everything better than 2005.

Kudos at stake for Mirza. Doha at stake for Marion. This is big. Requires Beastie-power!! GO MARION!! CUMMON HERO!! TAKE OUT SANIA.

*quotes; Sony Ericsson WTA Tour, Daily Telegraph,

Edited 07:57 10/16/2009

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Marion Say's No To Masters France

Marion is said to have declined to participate in the proposed French Masters tournament for women. The mens version is now in it's 2nd year, and will be held during the off season.

You may recall Marion Bartoli Fan Blog blog cast a slightly sceptical eye when news about the idea reached the blog on July 7. Today we now know Marion's position as regards participation.

In addition, Marion confirmed to French sports daily, L'Equipe, that her sights are firmly on making a reservation for Doha, if not as one of the top 8, then as one of the two alternates. Marion is in 11th place in the Race to Doha, which finishes in 10 days time.

Source: Banoit Melin, Carole Bouchard / RTL L'Equipe

Comments

M. Bartoli bt K. Nara 6-1 6-1

Wed, 14 Oct 2009 06:57:31 +0200

HP Japan Women's Open 2009
Osaka WTA - $220,000
Round 2 (16)

Doha Dream Still Intact

Promising Japanese youngster Kurumi Nara has been making great strides on the challenger circuit this year, but facing Marion Bartoli was a real baptism of fire into top flight tennis for the 17 year old.

Absorbing an early double fault, Nara did well to hold serve playing her very first game of tennis against a top 20 star. But to collide with a former Wimbledon finalist chasing a place at the Year Ending Championships in Doha proved a step too far on the day.

Perhaps the most telling statistic of the match is that Marion didn't face a single break point, yet to be fair to Kumuri Naram this wasn't entirely reflective of the direction of many of the games themselves, especially in the first set. There were several 30-30 and deuce situations - the French number 1's experience crucial in such situations.

Steph Myles writes on Open Court that she seen Kurumi Nara and Misaki Doi play doubles a couple of years ago, she was impressed by their wide-eyed enthusiasm for tennis and the tennis scene. Today will have been a brisk learning experience for Kurumi Nara, but surely in years to come, we are quite likely to get to know this young lady a little better.

In the quarter final Marion will play Sania Mirza. The Tour confirm Marion is still vying for a Doha place, and will be well motivated to level the 1-0 head to head advantage that the Indian star has held since the 2005 US Open. She got the job done efficiently today. You can ask nothing more.

Check out the Osaka gallery on the Tour website, there is one photo featuring Marion and the other players attending a player reception party.

A photo of Marion and Kurumi Nara from today's match, here.

Match Statistics

Player K Nara JPA M Bartoli FRA Aces 0 3 Double Faults 3 3 1st Serve % 57% 74% 1st Serve Pts Won 48% 82% 2nd Serve Pts Won 24% 50% Break Points Saved 3/8 0/0 Service Games Played 7 7 1st Serve Return Pts Won 18% 52% 2nd Serve Return Pts Won 50% 76% Break Points Won 0/0 5/8 Return Games Played 7 7 Total Service Pts Won 38% 74% Total Return Pts Won 26% 63% Total Pts Win 32% 68% Duration 1hr 01mins 34secs Fan Blog Moodset

Update 15:40

The match against Mirza is not on tomorrow's schedule and will therefore take place on Friday. The final is on Sunday.

Some footage from the match

Comments

Kurumi Nara v Marion Bartoli

Tue, 13 Oct 2009 18:13:34 +0200

Kurumi Nara (L) and Misaki Doi - 2007 Wimbledon girls doubles finalists

HP Japan Women's Open 2009
WTA - $220,000
Round 2 (16)

Preview

Young Japanese Star Set For Toughest Career Test

Kurumi Nara is a 17 years old from Japan making a rapid ascent through the rankings. She has a current singles rank of 170.

She enjoyed a highly accomplished junior career including a Wimbledon doubles final, and was Japan's top junior in 2007 ahead of Ayumi Morita.

Last year she played mainly junior events, however one foray onto the challenger circuit earned her a debut senior title at 25k Hamanako.

2009 has seen Kurumi Nara play a whole bunch of 25 and 50k's mainly at home in Japan, but also one or two in the USA. She won her 2nd ITF title at Obihiro 25k in June.

Kurumi's recent ranking has brought her into the competitive proximity of several players familiar to avid tennis fans, such as Shuai Zhang (who Marion beat last week in Beijing 6-1 6-4), Kurumi taking the Chinese player to three sets. She also recently put the top 200 ranked American Lauren Albanese to the test over three sets in a 50k.

Most notable is her victory last week against Carly Gullickson (Rank 141) in Tokyo 100k, before falling to Olga Savchuk in three sets.

Some (forums) have resorted to the convenient comparison with the recently retired Japanese gem Ai Sugiyama. Well, Kurumi Nara is short yes, highly agile yes, can comfortably play all court, and employs a two handed backhand. But these attributes can be said for pretty much the whole of east Asian women's tennis, after all just look at the amount of doubles titles women from these regions vacuum up. Yet If ranking and recommendation is anything to go by, then Kurumi Nara could well have a talent a little less generic, and a destiny a little less mundane than Japanese doubles specialist. Whatever the outcome of Wednesday's match with Marion - by far the highest ranking player she has ever had to play - Kurumi Nara seems destined for greater things.

Marion will be surely looking to negotiate this match with the same level of professionalism she has against the various wildcard wonders and promising young hopefuls she has encountered this year, players such as Monica Wejnert in Brisbane, Jessica Pegula at Ponte Vedra Beach, and even last week against the slightly more experienced Shuai Zhang in Beijing.

The atmosphere generated by matches such as these involving home favorites can be tense and exciting, with the crowd willing thier compatriot on. We seen a bit of that last week give Shuai Zhang a wee lift in the 2nd set. It's important therefore that Marion assert her level, and not give the crowd too much to perspire over. The match requires a healthy modicum of respect and application; expect nothing less from Marion Bartoli as she seeks a place in the quarter final at Osaka. Always fascinating to encounter a new player. Should be a great match under the late summer sunshine at Utsubo Tennis Center.

Schedule - Wed 13 Oct 2009
K. Nara [JPN] vs. M. Bartoli [FRA]
Match 3 on Center Court. Play starts 10AM local

Edited 06:36 10/2009/14

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Update 05:24 10/2009/14

Sony Ericsson WTA Tour confirm Marion has a mathematical chance of Doha qualification. With no outstanding tournament commitments after Osaka, Marion will likely seek a wild card for the Kremlin Cup in the event of winning Osaka outright.

Comments

M. Bartoli bt G. Voskoboeva 6-3 7-5

Tue, 13 Oct 2009 10:48:30 +0200

HP Japan Women's Open 2009
WTA - $220,000
Round 1 (32)

Marion Through To Last 16 In Osaka

Moshi moshi Ms. Mental Toughness duz it again. With just two points conceded in the opening two games, Marion began the match with an early cushion, and things were running true to form.

Then Marion seemed to have a little struggle with her inner goddess as she was broken to love, 4-1 up.

A tense service hold in which Voskoebova produced two double faults and three aces in one game, indicates that the 24 year old was giving the ball a fair old clatter today at Utsubo Tennis Center.

Marion's opponent seemed to be showing more signs of coming into the contest, and would be keen to prevent a repeat of her 6-2 6-3 defeat against Marion from last year’s US Open. However the French number 1 held her next service game and restored her double break cushion to close out the set with cool professionalism, 6-3.

2nd Set

Hauling herself back from 15-40, Marion clung on as the match geared up for the gathering Khazak storm. After four deuces, and a 4th and 5th double fault of the match, Marion denied her opponent the early break of serve. However it wasn't for long as Voskoboeva converted her 2nd of 10 break points earned over the course of the match.

With a hold to love and another break it was soon 5-2 - Voskoboeva entering a purple patch sweet enough to turn Marion Bartoli, "tomato red". But soon the brief storm had passed and Osaka was spared.. it was time to reap the whirlwind... Do you remember 5-2 down against Bacsinszky at Wimbledon? Or 4-1 down final set against Keothavong at Stanford last year? or a set and 5-1 down against Zvonareva last week?

A vengeful Voskoboeva understandably would be wanting to avert the indignity of a fifth career loss to our hero, but it wasn't to be. Marion Bartoli conceded just three points over the next 5 games as she stormed back to take the match 7-5 in the 2nd, closing to love.

When you’re the top seed in the half, players are gunning for you, it's just about getting through the rounds. Marion did a good job today. Next up for Marion is Japanese wildcard Kurumi Nara who did well to defeat South Africa's Chanelle Scheepers over three sets.

45th win of the season for Marion Bartoli!

Small photo of Marion and the players on the Japanese version of the website.

Match Statistics

Player G Voskoboeva KAZ M Bartoli FRA Aces 5 1 Double Faults 4 5 1st Serve % 51% 58% 1st Serve Pts Won 50% 69% 2nd Serve Pts Won 41% 42% Break Points Saved 4/10 7/10 Service Games Played 11 10 1st Serve Return Pts Won 31% 50% 2nd Serve Return Pts Won 58% 59% Break Points Won 3/10 6/10 Return Games Played 10 11 Total Service Pts Won 46% 58% Total Return Pts Won 42% 54% Total Pts Win 44% 56% Duration 1hr 37mins 10secs Fan Blog Moodset

Comments

Galina Voskoboeva v Marion Bartoli

Mon, 12 Oct 2009 17:38:51 +0200

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

Comments

Japan Open Main Draw

Sat, 10 Oct 2009 13:55:35 +0200

HP Japan Open
Osaka 12 - 18 Oct
International $220,000

Main Draw

(1)Caroline Wozniacki (DEN) v Ayumi Morita (JPN)
Katie O'Brien (GBR) v Alexa Glatch (USA)
Tamarine Tanasugarn (THA) v Q
Q v (6)Aleksandra Wozniak (CAN)

(3)Samantha Stosur (AUS) v Shuai Peng (CHN)
Akiko Morigami (JPN) v Q
(wc)Kimiko Date Krumm (JPN) v Jill Craybas (USA)
Mathilde Johansson (FRA) v (8)Yaroslava Shvedova (KAZ)

(7)Melinda Czink (HUN) v (wc)Ryoko Fuda (JPN)
Julie Coin (FRA) v Vania King (USA)
Yung-Jan Chan (TPE) v Carly Gullickson (USA)
Anne Kremer (LUX) v (4)Francesca Schiavone (ITA)

(5)Shahar Peer (ISR) v Sania Mirza (IND)
Maria Kirilenko (RUS) v Viktoriya Kutuzova (UKR)
Q v (wc)Kurumi Nara (JPN)
Galina Voskoboeva (KAZ) v (2)Marion Bartoli (FRA)

Marion played Voskoboeva in round 1 of last years US Open, and won comfortably in straight sets.

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Update 14:50

The match with Voskoboeva is not on Monday's order of play. So Marion should play Tuesday.

PS. Svetlana Kuznetsova has just beaten Agnieszka Radwanska 6-2 6-4 in the China Open. So this can help Marion's Doha chances.

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Update 12 Oct 17:58

As I interpret it, Marion still has a slim chance of travelling to Doha as an alternate. She is in 11th position, and 215 points behind Radwanska who is in 10th position in the Race. If Marion wins Osaka she earns around 300 points. If this is wrong, you are welcome to speak up.

For an outline on how Doha qualification works see this article on the race to Doha website.

Comments

A. Radwanska bt M. Bartoli 6-4 6-3

Sat, 10 Oct 2009 13:34:29 +0200

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Despite Bejing Exit Marion Enjoys Good Asian Tour

Shift in momentum was a phrase used to describe yesterday's match with Vera Zvonareva, and to some extent the theme continued today.

Only Marion can say how much her big push against Zvonareva took out of her, but nevertheless she tried to give it a real go today, succeeding in bursts. In both the first and second sets Marion immediately went a break up, 2-0 and 3-1 respectively,

At 3-3 in the first set Marion produced three or four winners in succession to break Radwanska and move into a 4-3 lead, but having seen Radwanksa first hand against Melanie Oudin at Wimbledon, it's remarkable the way she can just quietly creep back into a contest, with her delicate blend of shots and thoughtful game. Her agenda is of course to win, and she does it with the most surreptitious style of tennis. Radwanska is a fine player and brings diversity to the top 10.

Of the now four losses Marion has had to endure against the Polish star, one that sticks in mind is the 2008 Eastbourne semi final. In that match also Marion had her chances, she looked to be the alpha female on the green lawn, but in the end she lost the match in straight sets.

It's not as if Marion doesn't have the game to beat Radwanska, she does. Radwanska doesn't like the low fast flat balls Marion gives her, "I feel like I’m playing on my knees all the time against her" Radwanska said one time.

But Radwanska wasn't on her knees by the end of this match she closed out, with a love service game.

It's a pity Marion has missed out on a return to the top 10 next week, but there will be more chances to do so, the honor for now falls to Radwanska. Overall it has been a hectic and profitable two weeks for Team Bartoli; winning seven matches and losing two, beating a bunch of really good players in the process, and performing another hero moment against Zvonareva.

The Team are now scheduled to head back to Japan to play the Japan Open in Osaka from Monday (International 220k), and there is the Wildcard question as regards Kremlin Cup in Moscow, If there remain a mathematical possibility of even travelling to Doha as an alternate. Currently Marion lies in 11th position in the race.. What happens in tomorrow final between Radwanska and Kuznetsova will have also have a say about Doha.

One other little matter, the French Tennis Federation will officially publish annual national ranking on Monday October 19.

Player M Bartoli FRA A Radwanska POL Aces 1 2 Double Faults 2 0 1st Serve % 60% 65% 1st Serve Pts Won 63% 65% 2nd Serve Pts Won 30% 50% Break Points Saved 3/8 3/6 Service Games Played 9 10 1st Serve Return Pts Won 35% 37% 2nd Serve Return Pts Won 50% 70% Break Points Won 3/6 5/8 Return Games Played 10 9 Total Service Pts Won 50% 60% Total Return Pts Won 40% 50% Total Pts Win 45% 55% Duration 1hr 17mins 25secs Fan Blog Moodset

17:48

Comments

Marion Bartoli v Agnieszka Radwanska

Sat, 10 Oct 2009 03:21:16 +0200

China Open
Beijing
WTA $4,500,000

Saturday's Schedule
M. Bartoli [FRA] vs. A. Radwanska [POL]
Not before 7PM

Head to Head 3-0 to Radwanska

Comments

M. Bartoli bt V. Zvonareva 3-6 7-5 6-2

Fri, 09 Oct 2009 16:30:53 +0200

China Open
Beijing
WTA $ 4,500,000
Quarter Final

Unsung Hero Does It Again

In this week's blog poll, four very special victories are listed as options. If there was a fifth option, then this win in particular would have a strong case for inclusion.

It isn't simply that Marion has beaten a top 10 player, but it's the way she negotiated the dramatic momentum shifts in this match - doing so with complete determination and never say die attitude against her serial tormentor Vera Zvonareva.

Just as in her previous two matches against Zvonareva over the past 12 months, Marion started the more affirmative player, surging into a 3-0 lead with a double break.. exactly the same as occurred at the Australian Open.

At this stage Zvonareva took a medical time out. The interruption didn't so much halt the momentum as abduct it. Zvonareva won six games in a row and clinched the set.

There was no let up in the 2nd set. Despite Marion doing well to hold in the opening game. Zvonareva was putting Marion on the run, one side to the other. Soon, with a 5-1 lead Zvonareva was serving for the match... then the balls started to hit the net or go long off the Russians racquet.

Marion hung in there and regained the momentum. The supply of second serves which Zvonareva had fully exploited in the first set, began to dry up. Although Marion’s serving was solid overall.

It was a chilly night in Beijing; both players in long sleeves and Zvonareva in leggings, and even though court 1 had a spartan feel, there was some nice support, including some Frenchies shouting "ALLEZ MARION". Marion always stayed motivated, even if for some the outcome may have had an increasing air of inevitability. Yet similar to her Stanford match against Jelena Jankovic, match-point down, Marion came back to win the tie and two days later the title. The French number 1 tonight quite simply never resigned to any fatalism, and refused defeat.

The visor was off, the gloves were off, and she summoned several full throttle "cummons" from her lungs and begun dictating the match again, just as she had done at the start. Amid a meditative court 1 atmosphere, the microphone easily picked up Marion ventilating between points.. it was obvious just how hard she was working to stay in some of these rallies and win the point. From 5-1 down in the 2nd set, Marion won 9 games in a row - even a chat with coach Samuel Sumyk couldn't ameliorate Zvonareva's situation, she just buried her head in a towel during the change-over and joined the meditative and introspective vibe. Marion on the other hand was much more expressive - pulling all her faces, stomping about between points, shaking her fist when needed, and keeping up the energy hops and racquet swipes.

Soon Super Marion was raising her arms in jubilation upon the completion of a remarkable comeback.

After the frustration of a premature US Open exit, Marion has responded very well, with 7 wins and only one defeat. Team Bartoli deserve the credit they recieve for this win also. It was a superb fightback. In the match preview I pondered whether or not Walter Bartoli's friendliness with Zvonareva's coach Sam Sumyk compromises the competitive edge. This results shows that, no, it does not compromise.

This is also Marion's first victory over Vera Zvonareva in nearly four years, today was a Doha or die day. To come back from a set and 5-1 down against her nemesis Zvonareva just goes to show once again that Marion Bartoli epitomises and qualifies as one of the WTA's true unsung hero's, a cult hero! :. So now she lives to fight another day in the quest for Doha's bounty.. and more importantly, the chance to consolidate a place in the top 10 which a trip to Doha would offer.

Tomorrow Marion will play another bogey player, Agnieszka Radwanska for a place in the final of the China Open.

More could be said but I’m falling asleep as I write!

Match Statistics

Player M Bartoli FRA V Zvonareva RUS Aces 0 2 Double Faults 4 4 1st Serve % 71% 60% 1st Serve Pts Won 62% 60% 2nd Serve Pts Won 45% 43% Break Points Saved 4/9 6/13 Service Games Played 14 15 1st Serve Return Pts Won 40% 38% 2nd Serve Return Pts Won 57% 55% Break Points Won 7/13 5/9 Return Games Played 15 14 Total Service Pts Won 57% 53% Total Return Pts Won 47% 43% Total Pts Win 51% 49% Duration 2hr 08mins 08secs Fan Blog Moodset

Edited 07:45 10/Oct/09 (lots of sleepy errors corrected and things changed)

Comments

Marion Bartoli v Vera Zvonareva

Thu, 08 Oct 2009 14:39:02 +0200

Vera Zvonareva
(Photo: Copyright exempt)

China Open
Beijing
WTA - Premier Mandatory
$4,500,000

Order Of Play - Fri 09 Oct 2009
M. Bartoli vs. V. Zvonareva
Court 1 - 9PM

Doha Or Die: Can Super Marion Find Chinks In Bepa's Armour?

Match Preview

Here we go again.... Zvonareva squeaked through against US Open nemesis Flavia Pennetta. Today Zvonareva was 4-2 up in the 2nd set and lost it (metaphorically?).. and 5-2 up in the third set. Pennetta came back to 5-5.. But The Russian won the match 7-5 in the third. This result is really a mini triumph for Zvonareva, following her mental capitulation to the cocky Italian at the US Open. Zvonareva has shown character in over coming not only top 10 opposition, but also her residual mental gremlins.

DUBAI - There is maybe a lesson in this for Team Bartoli; if Marion can just keep Zvonareva in her sights until the business end of a set then it becomes a real test of nerve for both players. The mind game seems to be for Marion the best way through brick wall Bepa. In Dubai, Marion showed some embryonic signs of doing exactly that. If I recall, she broke Zvonareva in the first couple of games.. but then went down a break and retired from the match at 5-2 citing blsiters.

LINZ - Looking back to this stage of last season, our hero was humbled in the Linz semi final by the Russian world number 9. However, in all fairness, Marion had already played that week something like three, three set matches on consecutive days, before facing Zvonareva just 16 or 17 hours later. This year Marion's preparation for this late season encounter with Zvonareva looks a bit more forgiving.

AUSTRALIAN OPEN - At the Aussie Open in January, Marion was seemingly left exasperated after her quarter final loss to Zvonareva, she "reads my game like a book" said Marion, and graciously conceded that sometimes you have to say ”too good”. Here also, Marion was up an early break, then level at 3-3, before losing 9 games in a row and the match.

STYLE OF PLAY - For Zvonareva, Marion Bartoli is the perfect match, for Marion Bartoli it's the worst match. Marion loves to go for angles, closing the point down quickly. Bepa just runs from side to side ad infinitum loving-it, soaking it all up, have another shot, and another shot, and another shot and oops, down the line winner from Zvonareva. At the Aussie Open Marion said she was hitting the ball as hard as she could against Zvonareva, but the Russian just kept sending the ball back to her “with interest”, it’s one of the factors which distinguishes her from a fellow counterpuncher like Jankovic; Zvonareva will go on the offensive as needs must, she has the kind of counter-punching game that packs a real punch.

THE COACHES - So really, When Walter Bartoli talks about small goals.. one goal here would be just to keep Vera in sight. It would be nice to say today's three sets will have worn Zvonareva out, but that's unlikely.. she can run forever, she's still 25, and very fit. She has a solid support team and a highly respected coach in Sam Sumyk who is considered not so much instrumental as axiomatic in the revival of her fortunes, getting her game and head together, and back up the rankings. Yes she was troubled by the ankle after that nasty fall a few months ago, and her form has been patchy.. But looking at Zvonareva’s stats from her three wins this week, everything seems to be well in order, and she always keeps the error count low. On the other hand, Marion’s defensive capabilities have improved, as well as her fitness and movement. Both players know eachothers capabilities inside out, they practice together from time time, and both coaches and players have first hand knowledge of what the other is about, technically speaking.

Yet sometimes I wonder if Walter Bartoli's friendliness and respect of Sumyk in any way compromises Marion's competitive edge when playing Zvonareva(?) That's a real question by the way, not a rhetorical remark. But on the other hand it is good that there are some guys like Eric Bremond and Sumyk around the circuit that he feels on the same wavelength as, at least at some level. It's not that Walter Bartoli is misanthropic, he just chooses his company carefully and wisely.

AUCKLAND - As fans we still have that one terrific win for Marion to hold on to, beating Zvonareva in the final of the ASB Classic in Auckland almost 4 years ago. But that victory holds sentimental value only now. It has absolutely zero bearing on this match tomorrow - they are both such different and improved players since those days.

DOHA - So this is it, the Doha or die moment. Marion up against a direct rival for Doha, and up against it. She needs to win this match to have any realistic chance of playing in next month’s Year Ending Championships, if it was football they'd call it "a real 6 pointer".

We can be proud of Marion’s good work this week and last; 6 wins and only one defeat since the US Open. That in itself is good, regardless of what happens next.

YES SHE CAN - The end of season has thrown up some pretty queer results. If Marion were to win, where would this one figure in the scheme of things? But you know what, she can do it. She will do it.

Tournament website

update 14:09

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M. Bartoli bt S. Zhang 6-1 6-4

Thu, 08 Oct 2009 07:52:20 +0200

China Open
Beijing
3rd Round

Marion Overpowers China's Wildcard Wonder

A nervy opening to the match by both players. The first three games all breaks of serve, Marion's opening service game containing two double faults.

It looked like Marion was having a little bit of difficulty finding her serving rhythm in the first set. The French number 1 was dominant on return against her somewhat underpowered Chinese opponent. Yet despite the overwhelming first set score-line, by the end of the set Marion had offered 50% of first serves in, and won 58% of points when the first serve was in.

Mid-way in the set the previously unknown young Chinese player had a chat with her trainer. But as the set wore on Marion was finding her shots, serving out wide to her opponents forehand and swiftly advanced to a 5-1 lead.

Receiving serve for the set, there was one lovely point where Marion literally squats down to make the return with a winning shot.. (Unfortunately the match stream broke just after she struck that shot but I still heard the audio.).. Marion can come up with some pretty eclectic racquet wizardry sometimes, and it's magical to see.

Thankfully Marion’s calf bandage had also been magicked away today, and she was moving very well. Perhaps that extra day in between matches done some good. But then again, she works really hard on the practice court, so there are rarely any real days off, in the true sense. Nonetheless, around the time of the French Open she came out with the delightful phrase "a crescendo of energy", and the way she is pacing herself in this last Premier Mandatory event seems to fit in with that illustration; just in time, ready, at the right time, release the flow.. GO!

Onto the 2nd set; With Marion breaking her opponents serve in the opening game, things were rapidly looking bleak for Zhang, who was losing games hand over fist.

But in the next game the plucky Chinese woman showed just how she joined the world-beaters club, at least for one day. At 30 love she produced a sweet drop shot, and the crowd duly reciprocated their appreciation, chanting her name. Perhaps it helped motivate Zheng that little bit more, who levelled for 1 game all.

Both players exchanged further breaks of serve, yet Marion always looked the menacing one when her opponent was serving, stepping well inside the line to receive on big points, and applying constant pressure. Credit to Zhang who hung in there, holding a mammoth game to level the set at 3-3.

But it was only a matter of time, and the perpetually predatory world number 13 soon tranquilised the hopeful crowd - a Zheng hold was sandwiched by Marion holding two service games to love, for a 5-4 lead. At this stage Walter Bartoli came over for a chat and issued some clear brisk instruction in French. Whatever was said clearly had the desired effect, a ball into the net and it was game set and match, Marion Bartoli.. meatily shouting "YES."

Later, Marion's opponent admitted that her achilles heel today was her sedentary serving, "My delivery of service was not consistent enough and that made me unable to hit as hard as I can. I will try to improve it (serving) in the coming winter training,."

Curiously, Shuai Zhang seemed to be wearing last season’s Nike outfit, indicating that despite having beaten two players in this week’s main draw including world number 1 Safina, this young lady is presently without a kit sponsor. Nevertheless she looked splendid in the striking red and white combination which was also worn last season by her leading compatriot Zheng Jie (and Marion wore the same last year, but with the white skirt). Shuai Zhang has had an excellent tournament and If she keeps producing the results that she has this week, then she won't be without sponsors for long!

As for Marion, you could be excused for thinking she is also without a kit supplier lol, still sporting the frayed cap!:) Maybe it's a lucky talisman worn since Stanford, or maybe since that rare double bagel in the first round of Wimbledon, ironically against another Chinese player. Whatever the reason, if she keeps winning as decisively as this then may she wear it forever!

Pennetta or Zvonareva next.. Her Doha rivals. Today's win has kept Marion in the hunt for a place at the Year Ending Championships in Doha. She still has to go some, but she isn't known as Super Marion for nothing!

Small write up and nice photo on the tournament website here.

Match Statistics

Player S Zhang CHN M Bartoli FRA Aces 0 4 Double Faults 4 3 1st Serve % 63% 54% 1st Serve Pts Won 38% 68% 2nd Serve Pts Won 48% 57% Break Points Saved 5/11 3/5 Service Games Played 9 8 1st Serve Return Pts Won 32% 62% 2nd Serve Return Pts Won 43% 52% Break Points Won 2/5 6/11 Return Games Played 8 9 Total Service Pts Won 42% 63% Total Return Pts Won 37% 58% Total Pts Win 40% 60% Duration 1hr 32mins 11secs Fan Blog Moodset

latest edit 9/Oct/09 (Zhang post match comment)

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Zhang Shuai v Marion Bartoli

Tue, 06 Oct 2009 12:53:12 +0200

Tournament website

China Open
Beijing
WTA $4,500,000
3rd Round

Safina's conqueror next!

SCHEDULE - Thurs 08 Oct 2009

Center Court
Zhang Shuai [CHN] vs. Marion Bartoli [FRA]
Not before 1PM

Comments

M. Bartoli bt A. Kleybanova 6-2 6-3

Tue, 06 Oct 2009 09:09:07 +0200

China Open
Beijing
WTA - $ 4,500,000
2nd Round

Bartoli Prevails!

Perhaps Alisa Kleybanova was feeling the effects of yesterday's hard fought win over Wickmayer. Quickly down 4-0, rampant Marion soon had triple break point for a triple break 5-0 lead. However Marion's opponent finally began to set about reversing the undignified scoreline, winning the next 6 points in a row, and retrieving one of the breaks back to 15 for 4-2 Marion.

The Russian's only double fault of the match match proved costly as Marion pushed her opponent for a well earned triple break. Soon the imperious Bartoli was closing out the first set 6-2 with an ace.

One look at Kleybanova and you know your not going to get Martina Hingis. It's heavy groundstrokes and an awesome lunging serve. It's not for the purists, yet you can't help but warm to the big Russians cheerfully uncouth habits, pleasantly plump demeanour, and unschooled technique.. Sound familiar? Well with two out of three at least..

Even though 'Kleybz' strikes me as more Burberry than Kate Bush, she is currently carrying off a new winswept dark-haired any mysterious look, as exhibited by her WTA profile photo. The Kleybanova brand-building strategy has been at work on this fresh young force in the women's game. But when it comes to winswept and mysterious, Marion Bartoli is a total natural.

2nd Set

Despite a tough two and a half hour match against US Open shock troop Yanina Wickmayer 24 hours previous, the world number 28 fought gainly to revive the match in the 2nd set, starting with a service hold. But after a dominant hold in response from the reigning French Number 1, Kleybanova was again put under pressure in the third game and broken. Marion quickly consolidating for 3-1.

Things were soon all square - Kleybanova with a remarkable break to love, backed up by a hold for 3-3.

But once again Marion held the upper hand, breaking and holding for the loss of just two points and a 5-3 lead. Super Marion closed out the match at her first point of asking. Job done.

Marion can severely chastise her opponents with those powerful returns and cross-court shots. The return stats today confirm her prowess. In addition, 56% of first serves in, four aces, and five double-faults in a swift straight sets win, shows that either it was windy in Beijing or Marion was putting a bit of pop on her serve out there, perhaps mindful of who was on the other side of the net. Either way, this is another good win by Marion Bartoli, against a player who has returned several eye-catching wins this season over the likes of Venus, Jankovic, and Zvonareva. It is also good she wrapped things up quickly today. We can't ask for anything more. After a long hard season, she is still producing some really nice results.

Match Statistics

Player A Kleybanova RUS M Bartoli FRA Aces 1 4 Double Faults 1 5 1st Serve % 57% 56% 1st Serve Pts Won 38% 78% 2nd Serve Pts Won 54% 44% Break Points Saved 6/12 2/4 Service Games Played 9 8 1st Serve Return Pts Won 22% 63% 2nd Serve Return Pts Won 56% 46% Break Points Won 2/4 6/12 Return Games Played 8 9 Total Service Pts Won 45% 63% Total Return Pts Won 37% 55% Total Pts Win 41% 59% Duration 1hr 17mins 30secs Fan Blog Moodset

edited & updated 14:00

Comments

Alisa Kleybanova v Marion Bartoli

Mon, 05 Oct 2009 07:32:59 +0200

A. Kleybanova vs. M. Bartoli
China Open
Beijing
WTA $4,500,000
Round 2

HEAD TO HEAD
Bartoli 1-0 Kleybanova (Eastbourne 2008)

Tournament Website

More later.

Last year On The Baseline invited me to submit an article on Alisa Kleybanova for their Players To Watch series, you can read it here.. and of course, Marion Bartoli gets a mention.

In the meantime, what's your feelings on this match?

Schedule - Marion's match is 2nd on Court 4 in Tuesday's order of play. It follows another women's match. The day's play starts at a sensible hour, 12:30 local.

Alisa Kleybanova Wimbledon 2009 (photo Marion Bartoli Fan Blog)

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Ranking - In Tokyo Marion recovered some ground which was lost at the US Open, consequently she has risen one place to NO.13 in this weeks Sony Ericsson WTA Tour Singles Rankings. In the race to Doha Marion lies in 11th position.

L'Equipe - News emerging from the street edition of French sports daily L'Equipe, that Marion say's she is tired and still bothered by her calf muscle.

Speaking publicly for the first time since the US Open, she told L'EQUIPE, "It's a little tendinitis that I had already had at Stanford. The end of season is hard for girls who, like me, have much slower and heavier ball. I hope to recuperate" (05/10/09)

As you may know, Marion's calf was bandaged up last week, just as it had been during Stanford. At that time Marion actually had both calf's bandeged, to which she explained at the time, was simply a precautionary method advancing from failure to have the correct inserts inside her tennis shoes.

Updated 16:25

(quotation from Marion)

Thanks to Lighter.

Comments

M. Bartoli bt M. Rybarikova 6-2 4-6 6-3

Sun, 04 Oct 2009 10:35:13 +0200

China Open - Beijing

Round 1

Magdalena Rybarikova's ranking may have remained pretty static since the blog first took a look at her wares back in March, but if scores are anything to go by, this young lady is learning fast. The Slovak was crushed by Marion 7 months ago in Monterrey, but more recently took our hero into a third set at New Haven, before Marion retired from the match. So for our finest Corsican flame to come through this tough test with a win, is a good result

At the start of the match the players exchanged early breaks, before Marion settled into a comfortable 5-2 lead, and the sealed the set in the next game receiving serve.

The reigning French Number 1 then opened the 2nd set with a hold to love, and earned three break points in the next game. After a tussle to and fro deuce, Rybarikova held serve, in a game which seemed to catalyse her comeback as a competitive force in the match.

It was not entirely unexpected. Winning her debut tour title in Birmingham this summer and having a good run to the quarter final in Tokyo last week, Rybarikova is becoming a solid all court all surface; grass is her forte, she said this long before she won Birmingham, but looking at her results she is clearly learning how to play all types of players, including our own eclectic two-handed tennis terrorist! In Monterrey the Slovak won just 4 games.. what a change.

By now Scything through service games like a Terracotta warrior, Rybarikova broke Marion in the eighth game of the 2nd set. Despite having a break back point at 4-5 40-30, Rybarikova took the 2nd set 6-4.

What a contrast between the first set and the start of the third set for Rybarikova; 40% of first serves in, over the first set. 61% of first serves in over the 2nd set. Around 70% of first serves at the start of the third set.

Sometimes you sit there looking at the scoreboard or watching a match and wonder to yourself if tennis players can read each others minds, if there exists some kind of unconscious consent in the minds of both players, a consent which unconsciously determines the style of play, the terms of the deul, and what happens next - As one Love hold followed another, you felt a kind of tet a tete.

But if holding out for a tie break, Rybarikova was content to let the match drag on, Bartoli had other ideas, breathing fire and breaking in the 7th game, and soon wrapping up the match! Avoiding any dodgy tie break situation.

Today's win showed a lot of character. Its a good win, and will I'm sure be met by nods and approving noises all round. Marion should have some recovery time as she won't be playing tomorrow.

Marion Bartoli will play Alisa Kleybanova or Yanina Wickmeyer in the next round.

PS.. did you get the appalling pun?? drag on, breathing fire.. get it? ................

Match Statistics

Player ,M Rybarikova SVK M Bartoli FRA Aces 2 0 Double Faults 5 4 1st Serve % 55% 63% 1st Serve Pts Won 67% 70% 2nd Serve Pts Won 45% 59% Break Points Saved 4/8 3/5 Service Games Played 13 14 1st Serve Return Pts Won 30% 33% 2nd Serve Return Pts Won 41% 55% Break Points Won 2/5 4/8 Return Games Played 14 13 Total Service Pts Won 57% 66% Total Return Pts Won 34% 43% Total Pts Win 46% 54% Duration 2hr 10mins 22secs Fan Blog Moodset

Man! When blogface gets sleepy the posts are written really badly.. not just normal badly... but extreme ultra badly badly, really! Bad.........

edited 23:00

Comments

The China Open And Fostering Tennis In China

Sun, 04 Oct 2009 02:29:04 +0200

Olympic Green Tennis Centre, venue for the China Open in Beijing (Photo: Mankash CC Attrib 3.0)

Building The Tournament - This is Marion's first visit to China since the blog began, however she has played Beijing once before, albeit in 2006 when the tournament was of a more modest scale. This year Beijing has been upgraded, and re-designated a Premier Mandatory event - A class of Tournament just below Grand Slams in the pecking order, and certainly on a par with the likes of Indian Wells and Miami on grounds of status if not quite tradition, yet.

Tournament tradition and reputation is something built over time, through efficient running and management of an event, and most importantly by the level of local enthusiasm and tennis literacy the fans attending the tournament acquire. Some say that Chinese crowds can be a bit unpredictable during matches, but it's a learning curve for all. As the fans develop a real love for the tennis, you get a sound basis for the future health of the tournament. It isn't just about money.

Promoting The Product - IMG, the global media firm who own and operate several major tournaments including Miami and Stanford, and also represent top players including Federer, Sharapova, Marion and now China's Li Na, recently signed a huge 20 year deal with Chinese state TV to promote sports events in China, including the China Open. So the top-down commitment and will to make this thing work is there, "Our ultimate goal is to bring the world's best sporting events and management to China, and to bring China's best sports and sports culture to the rest of the world," said IMG's chairman and CEO, Ted Forstmann".

Getting To Know You - While the Japanese are said to be unscrupulously polite, shy, and reserved with foreign visitors, people who have been to China frequently talk about how they are really struck by how friendly and inquisitive the Chinese people are. If you're foreign and in China, don't be surprised if people simply approach you in the street, despite the, umm, reassuringly omnipotent presence of people in uniform.

China itself may be one of the oldest and greatest civilisations on the planet, but it is still very much an emerging and developing nation, in the process of introducing itself to the world. Even though the world itself is Made In China now.

Inspiring Youth - This emergence offers women's tennis such a fantastic opportunity, to engage a whole new market, and to turn hearts and minds onto the fun, freedom, health, and vitality generated by a simple racquet and yellow ball. Steadily we are seeing a growing number of Chinese players arrive on the tour Li Na, Zheng Jie, Peng Shuai, we are pretty familiar with, but just look at the small army of red-clad representatives of the Peoples Republic Of China annexing this week's main draw. It's pretty remarkable the number of names I have never heard of! A phenomenon predominantly occurring on the women's side. It may even seem a bit intimidating. Yet when you put your anxieties on ice for a moment, and look at the benefits of encouraging and nurturing fresh Chinese talent, it is potentially very exciting for the future of the woman's game.

The National development programme Swing For The Stars is helping to inspire and enable Chinese kids to get into the sport from the bottom up, or at least from the middle (classes) up and follow in the footsteps of the Hero women. Launched in 2007, the programme provides intensive coaching to 400 children aged 12 or younger, under the tutelage of 100 tennis coaches. Swing For The Stars also has other training and tennis outreach services involving schools, helping around 3 million young Chinese get access to training, coaching, and all things tennis. Swing For The Stars is supported by the USTA, and also by big name sponsors including Mercedes-Benz and Dunlop.

In addition to this, former top American pro Michael Chang recently opened his own 50 court academy in the city of Shenzhen..

Ping Pong Diplomacy - You know just to finish, there is a precedent for all this, the path tennis now embarks was first beaten by one of the cousins of our sport, Table Tennis...

On April 6, 1971, while in Japan for the 31st World Table Tennis Championship, the United States National Table Tennis Team was invited to China by Chinese Premier Chou En-lai for an all expense paid visit. The U.S. team accepted, and on April 10, 1971, nine players, team officials, and two spouses became the first group of Americans to visit China since 1949. From April 11 - April 17, the U.S. team played against the Chinese team in a series of internationally publicized table tennis exhibitions. (Table Tennis USA).

Table Tennis sparked the whole thing off. Laid the groundwork for the first ever visit of a US President to the Peoples Republic Of China, opening the door to better international relations between the US and China, and trade between China and the west.

You Get What You Give - China has so much to give tennis, and tennis has so much give China, and tennis and China have so much to give women and kids - the latter is what really matters.

Despite the micro-management and airbrushing that went on before and during the Beijing olympics, never underestimate the power of sport as an agent of change... the politicians and business people know this very well.

It's exciting times for tennis in China.

Historic handshake between Chairman Mao and President Nixon in 1972 (photo: Wiki / Copyright waived)

Edited Mon Oct 5 2009

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Weekly Poll

Sat, 03 Oct 2009 06:09:08 +0200

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Previous poll results here.

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Walter

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Interview by Bruce Emond in the Jakarta Post - here

Comments

China Open Main Draw

Fri, 02 Oct 2009 09:24:42 +0200

China Open - main draw
Beijing - Oct 3-11 2009
WTA - Premier Mandatory
4,500,000

[1]Dinara Safina v Roberta Vinci
Zhang Shuai v Iveta Benesova
Yanina Wickmayer v Alisa Kleybanova
Magdalena Rybarikova v [14]Marion Bartoli
[10]Flavia Pennetta v Han ?
Maria Kirilenko v Qualifier
Sabine Lisicki v Francesca Schiavone
Sorana Cirstea v [7]Vera Zvonarena

[4]Elena Dementieva v Anna-Lena Groenefeld
Elena Vesnina v Qualfier
Qualifier v Lucie Safarova
Bye v [16]Li Na
[12]Agnieszka Radwanska v Bye
Qualifier v Patty Schnyder
Qualifier v Gisela Dulko
Maria-Jose Martinez Sanchez v [5]Caroline Wozniacki

[6]Svetlana Kuznetsova v Zheng Jie
Anabel Medina-Garrigues v Yen-Hsun Lu
Agnes Szavay v Alona Bondarenko
Sara Errani v [11]Ana Ivanovic
[15]Samantha Stosur v Alize Cornet
Aravane Rezai v Aleksandra Wozniak
Sybille Bammer v Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova
Vera Dushevina v [3]Venus Williams

[8]Jelena Jankovic v Bye
Virginie Razzano v Shuai Peng
Bye v Maria Sharapova
Qualfier v [9]Victoria Azarenka
[13]Nadia Petrova v Qualifier
Daniela Hantuchova v Carla Suarez Navarro
Qualifier v Ekaterina Makarova
Kai Kanepi v [2]Serena Williams

Comments

Happy Birthday Marion!!

Fri, 02 Oct 2009 07:42:39 +0200

Comments

J. Jankovic bt M. Bartoli 6-4 6-3

Thu, 01 Oct 2009 05:14:54 +0200

Toray Pan Pacific Open
Tokyo
Quarter Final

Jelena Jankovic [SRB] bt Marion Bartoli [FRA] 6-4 6-3

Jankovic springs upset over a tired looking Marion in Tokyo.

Whenever Marion plays Jelena Jankovic you have the impression that she can break the former world number 1's serve at will, today was not much different. However Marion lost her own service games too many times, and simply on aggregate Jankovic ground out a result. In the first set Marion was down a break twice at 3-1 and 5-3, but successfully broke back each time. But serving to stay in the set Jankovic broke again, to win the set.

In the 2nd set Marion was quickly down 3-0 and 5-1, but retrieved a break for 5-3. In the final game of th match the French Number 1 saved one of the match points with an audacious winner into the corner, but unfortunately was unable to prevent Jankovic from marking up her first win over Marion since the 2007 French Open.

After yesterday's epic win over Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova and the cumulative effect of having not played for a month then suddenly required to perform four days running, it was always going to be a big ask for Marion to get a result today. Indeed, she started today's match with her calf strapped up again.

There are positives and some proud moments from this week to hold on to; wins over Cirstea and Pavlyuchenkova are not to be sniffed at. These are two of the hottest new properties on the tour. Plus a solid win over compatriot Rezai. Overall Marion can be fairly satisfied with the week - but that is her call.

Pete Bodo argued that outside of the slams there are periods of the season which are more about consolidation than spectacular progress.. and well, maybe he was right on that point after all, and maybe Tokyo, wonderful tournament and wonderful country as Japan is, fits into Bodo's thinking on this.

Marion now travels to Beijing for next week's China Open. But Marion Bartori will return again to Japan later this month. Which is very nice.

Just one further thought, the first time I seen Marion play (on tv) she lost to Jankovic, that was almost two and half years ago. Since then Marion has beaten the Serb four times. So who knows, maybe in a perverse kind of logic this loss is a good omen.. well I gotta put some positive spin on it haven't I! But either way, win or lose, on the rise, on the slide, or on the panda, we support the team!

Match stats once the protennislive tool is funtioning properly again.

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M. Bartoli bt A. Pavlyuchenkova 4-6 6-2 7-5

Wed, 30 Sep 2009 07:40:14 +0200

Toray Pan Pacific Open
Tokyo

Oui Oui et Oui!

Marion Bartoli [FRA] bt Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova [RUS] 4-6 6-2 7-5 (3 hrs 1 min)

Down a set, then down a break in the third, but Marion always kept on fighting against this first serve machine. Marion held three matchpoints at 5-4, but couldn't convert.

But the real talking point for many will be the medical time-out which Marion took at 6-5 in the final set. Rather like injury time goals in soccer, the need for medical treatment can occur at any time over the duration of a match, indeed the longer a match goes on the more likely the need for the attention of the trainer.. such is the demands of sport at the highest level - these athletes give their all. Having not played for fully one month, then suddenly playing three matches in three days, including a 3 hour epic, it's quite understandable that a player may have no option but to call the trainer out. There can be no question about the veracity of the situation, a few choice camera shots of Marion's tortured and blistered feet comfirm the bloody facts, at least for those who had an opportunity to see the end of the end of the match.

In these circumstances, Marion Bartoli's efforts in winning this match should be celebrated, not criticised.

Some big holds in there from the boss. Impressive 2nd serve stats from Marion; 56%.

So a tough loss for the young Russian star to bear star after a valiant effort, but another great win for fans of Marion Bartoli to savor.

Ok more coherant stuff and details later today. But first I'm gonna try hit the sack guys, then back to do the news later after sleep.

twitter.com/bartolifanblog

Thursday Order Of Play

J. Jankovic [SRB] v M. Bartoli [FRA]

Match 2 on Ariake. Not Before 11:00 local

Another early start for Marion following last night's heroics!

Player Marion Bartoli FRA Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova RUS Aces 2 0 Double Faults 5 7 1st Serve % 60% 70% 1st Serve Pts Won 66% 62% 2nd Serve Pts Won 56% 42% Break Points Saved 11/14 11/16 Service Games Played 15 15 1st Serve Return Pts Won 38% 34% 2nd Serve Return Pts Won 58% 44% Break Points Won 5/16 3/14 Return Games Played 15 15 Total Service Pts Won 62% 56% Total Return Pts Won 44% 38% Total Pts Win 53% 47% Duration 3hr 01mins 01secs Fan Blog Moodset et

BARTO - BARTO - BARTO - LEEEE - WE ARE THE MIGHTY BARTOOOLEEEE!!!!! WE ARE THE MIGHTY BARTOOOLEEEE!!!!! WE ARE THE TEAM BARTOOOLEEEE!!!!!

Updated 1 Oct 2009 03:47

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M. Bartoli bt A. Rezai 6-4 6-2

Tue, 29 Sep 2009 04:00:43 +0200

Toray Pan Pacific Open
Tokyo
Round 2

Marion Bartoli [FRA] bt Aravane Rezai [FRA] 6-4 6-2

Match Summary

Aravane Rezai came out with all guns blazing, maintaining a first serve up around the 70 percent mark after her first four service games. She was holding her service games without too much menace from Marion. It was a good start from Rezai, she knew what she was about today, to stand any chance against the best French player.

After the first eight games the set was tied at 4-4, but in the 9th game the nerves crept in for the serving player, consecutive double faults followed, and Rezai was broken.

Bollettieri once said "talent will get you nowhere", and when it comes to the art of making the most of every opportunity, Marion is one of the best. She knows when to make her move, she knows when to turn the screw. She knows how to turn her opponents nerves to sushi. I've lost count how many times I have seen her make a swift dash for the line when the score is level at the business end of a set.

An ace brought up set point, Marion closed the game to love, and took the set 6-4.

Securing a break at the start of the 2nd set, Marion held off a break point in the next game to move 2-0 ahead. Thereafter Marion played tennis and Aravane played double fault. Marion played with Rezai, and Rezai played with herself.

5-0 up and another 2nd set bagel beckoned. Perhaps the nerves crept in a little bit. Rezai fished the deficit back to 5-2, and although Marion had 3 Match-Points in the next game, Rezai saved them all to take the game to deuce. The reigning French number 1 just had to the bite the bullet, and was soon able to close the game and the match, and bid Rezai goodbye

Another satisfying and deserved win for every fan of the reigning French Number 1 to enjoy. "I am trained and programmed to win" Marion once said, yet however frequent match wins become, they are never simply churned out with Japanese efficiency. As Marion explained a few months ago; in tennis there are so many variables, it is not an exact science, it isn't mathematics Marion said ruefully. So it's really great just to enjoy each one. Puts a smile on your face and fills you with pride.

Match Statistics

Player Marion Bartoli FRA Aravane Rezai FRA Aces 2 2 Double Faults 3 6 1st Serve % 64% 53% 1st Serve Pts Won 74% 62% 2nd Serve Pts Won 58% 46% Break Points Saved 1/2 1/5 Service Games Played 9 9 1st Serve Return Pts Won 38% 26% 2nd Serve Return Pts Won 54% 42% Break Points Won 4/5 1/2 Return Games Played 9 9 Total Service Pts Won 68% 55% Total Return Pts Won 45% 32% Total Pts Win 56% 44% Duration 1hr 17mins 35secs Fan Blog Moodset

Pavlyuchenkova

Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova is Marion's next opponent. The hard hitting youngster is the most dangerous Russian teenager on the tour. Only on paper can her 2nd round win over Venus be described as an upset. Venus rarely plays her best at this stage of any tournament, even in slams, and was ripe for the picking. This will be Marion's toughest test so far this week, but if she plays to her ability she will win.

Civil war could break out in Scotland tomorrow 8|, so look out for that.. Fellow Scot JimM is a long time admirer of Pavlyuchenkova's tennis, JimM's Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova site.

This is the first meeting between Marion and Pavlyuchenkova.

Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova Wimbledon 2009 (Photo: Marion Bartoli Fan Blog)

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M. Bartoli bt S. Cirstea 6-3 6-0

Mon, 28 Sep 2009 04:46:00 +0200

Toray Pan Pacific Open
Tokyo
Round 1

Bullet Train Bartoli Shoots By Sorry Sori

Marion Bartoli bt Sorana Cirstea 6-3 6-0

Match Summary

What a morale boosting and thoroughly encouraging result this is after our New York blue note.

Opening the match with consecutive double faults, Cirstea found herself quickly down a break of serve at the start of the match. Both players comfortably held the next two service games to bring the score to 2-1 Marion.

If the first game set the tone of the match, the fourth seemed to seal its fate. Saving one break point in a game which returned to deuce five times, Marion finally settled the game to move into a 3-1 lead.

The reigning French number 1 romped through the remainder of the set to take a 5-1 lead, and although Cirstea retrieved a break and held for 5-3, there was to be no Mattek-Sands Ponte Vedra Beach moment (losing a set from 5-1 up).... Marion successfully sealed the set with a break to 15.

The 2nd set scoreline conceals the fact that the first four games where actually pretty close. The Romanian earned a break point at the start of the set, but failed to convert. But a break to love in the final game and it was sionara Sorana.

With surprising liberalism the Romanian's double fault count took an exponential trip, and her first serve percentage was remarkably low. With this being the first meeting between the players, it seems that the 19 year old was searching for the right answer, getting nervous, making mistakes, and lacked the goods to bridle a rampant and distinctive Bartolicraft. Cirstea's compatriot Monica Niculescu is a both hand both sides player, and there are a few other purveyors of the two handed game around the circuit, but for sure she won't have ever played anyone quite like Marion Bartoli before.

In the next round our red hot blue note will play French foe Aravane Rezai. We won't rake over the past, but this has got the making of a very interesting encounter. Not least because Rezai has finally found a little bit of form in the past few months, including a title in Strasbourg.

Player Marion Bartoli FRA Sorana Cirstea ROU Aces 2 5 Double Faults 2 7 1st Serve % 53% 34% 1st Serve Pts Won 59% 60% 2nd Serve Pts Won 65% 29% Break Points Saved 3/4 3/9 Service Games Played 7 8 1st Serve Return Pts Won 40% 41% 2nd Serve Return Pts Won 71% 35% Break Points Won 6/9 1/4 Return Games Played 8 7 Total Service Pts Won 62% 40% Total Return Pts Won 60% 38% Total Pts Win 61% 39% Duration 1hr 30mins 05secs Fan Blog Moodset

Edited 18:14 09/09/28

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