Reuters - Sun, 08 Nov 10:03:00 2009
Aravane Rezai won the Tournament of Champions in Bali when top seed Marion Bartoli retired with a quad injury after losing the first set 7-5.
The win gave Rezai the second title of her career following success at Strasbourg in May and lifted her into the world's top 30 for the first time.
"It's a big surprise to finish like that -- I'm very sorry for her," said Rezai, who earned $200,000 (£120,370) and broke the million dollar barrier in career earnings over the week.
"She looks like she hurt a lot and I hope it is not a big injury.""She looks like she hurt a lot and I hope it is not a big injury."
Bartoli had broken her fellow Frenchwoman to lead 3-2 but failed to serve out the set at 5-4 and was unable to convert a break point on Rezai's serve at 5-5.
Tenth seed Rezai held for 6-5 and then struck a backhand winner to end a long rally to earn two set points.
Bartoli then walked to the chair wincing in pain and after having her left thigh taped up she immediately double-faulted to lose the set before throwing in the towel.
"I started to feel my leg was pretty tight in the middle of the set," said Bartoli. "I started to feel some pain all over my quads and I thought maybe it was the stress and no reason to be serious.
"I'm very sad to finish like this. The last thing you want to do is injure yourself in the last match of the season."
Bartoli had been bidding for her third title of the year after winning at Monterrey and Stanford.
Comment 1 - 6 of 6
AAwww poor piggy she will have to get the vet to sort her out so she will be ready for more one set matches in 2010
the swine's trotters have give way and she has no choice but to throw in the towel.....haha......
I DONT BELIEVE IT! Bartoli retires after losing the first set of a match! major shock i dont think that has ever happened before??
Poor Marion, she was very upset.
Poor Marion, she was very upset.
Surprise surprise :X
Please login to post a comment
Not already a Yahoo! user ? Sign up to get a free Yahoo! Account