"Une Histoire D'Amour Française" Avec Marion Bartoli

Marion Bartoli is probably one of the most peculiar players on the WTA tour. With her odds shots, double-sided on both sides, and funny looking serving ritual, the Frenchwoman puts on quite a show everytime she plays. She rose to fame in 2007 when she captured a magnificent fortnight at Wimbledon, making it all the way to her first Grand Slam final, before bowing out to Venus Williams. Since then, she strengthened her position as France's number 1 by being a constant top 20 presence.

The main issue with Marion is her inconsistency and her propensity to injury. When she's on, then she's definitely on, but when she loses her grip she becomes the easiest of targets. There are so many matches when she was 5-1, or even 6-0 up, but ended up losing. From this viewpoint, her career resembles a rollercoaster. You never know what is going to happen next.

A proof of her adventurous ride consists of her surprising dream run on French clay, her least favourite surface. The love affair started in Strasbourg where the top seeded Bartoli toughed it out to make it all the way to the finals. Of course, the inevitable happened and the Frenchwoman retired after losing the first set to Germany's Andrea Petkovic citing injury. With less than 24 hours before the start of the French Open, she became a major doubt. As many times before, her father worked some sort of a miracle and Marion was fit to play her first round match against Georgian Anna Tatishvili. After a disastrous start, she found her range and made it through, 1-6, 6-2, 6-1. Another three-setter and Bartoli was scheduled to meet in-form Julia Goerges in the third round. Due to her clay record and her physical problems, I was expecting Julia to cruise through this one, but to my surprise, it was the Frenchwoman who came out on top. After taking out one of the main contestant for the Suzanne Lenglen cup, the home crowd finally had something to look for. Taking advantage of an injured opponent, i.e. Gisela Dulko retired during their fourth round clash, Marion found herself in her first Roland Garros quarterfinal. Though the result was surprising to many, she remained confident. It was this self-belief that helped her beat 2009 champion, Russian Svetlana Kuznetsova after 2 tight sets, 7-6, 6-4. Although she succumbed in the semis to defending champion, Italian Francesca Schaivone, Bartoli's performance is one both her and her country can be extremely proud of. After Wozniacki’s defeat her side of the draw became wide open. The fact that she made it thus far marks one of the few opportunities she actually took.

The thing I liked the most about her during the Parisian fortnight was her attitude. She didn't retire injured, she didn't lose momentum and when times got though, she hanged on and fought until the end. Francesca's claycourt skills proved too much to handle for a determined, but not resourceful enough Bartoli. However, with the grass season just around the corner and Wimbledon coming up in two weeks, Marion chances couldn't look better. She might be the underdog to challenge the leading ladies. But yet again, I guess with her we'll never know.

photo:  GETTY IMAGES