Wimbledon - Injured Bartoli a Wimbledon doubt

Eurosport - Fri, 19 Jun 21:23:00 2009

Marion Bartoli, a Wimbledon finalist two years ago, limped out of the Eastbourne International semi-finals with a thigh injury and said her participation at the All England Club could be in doubt.

TENNIS 2009 Marion Bartoli - 0

"If it is a strain then there is not much chance I can play next week," said Bartoli, who has been seeded 12th for next week's Wimbledon championships.

"The doctors can't yet say what the diagnosis is because it is too soon after my retirement so I need to wait until tomorrow and see," added Bartoli, before leaving a news conference in tears.

Bartoli's withdrawal after 11 games put fellow Frenchwoman Virginie Razzano into Saturday's final against Dane Caroline Wozniacki, who beat Canada's Aleksandra Wozniak 3-6 6-4 6-4 in the second semi-final.

Bartoli had lost the first set 4-6 to Razzano when she asked for the trainer to be summoned.

She took time out to have her thigh treated and strapped but, finding herself unable to run for the ball, pulled out after losing the first game of the second set to love.

Bartoli, who lost to Venus Williams in the 2007 Wimbledon final, refused to shake hands with Razzano before leaving the Centre Court.

Razzano had earlier accused Bartoli of underhand tactics, saying in French newspaper L'Equipe: "You get the impression that on court it's okay by her to use any means to win: calling on the trainer, crying, limping."

Bartoli said on Friday: "To say what she said yesterday in the French newspaper, that is not really brilliant. I guess that is just the way she is."

Razzano, who beat top seed Elena Dementieva in the second round, warmed to the theme again in her own post-match news conference, saying of Bartoli: "She tries to do things to make your concentration drop. She can try anything to win. When you play Marion you need to prepare for everything."

Swirling winds at the seaside venue made serving difficult for all four semi-finalists and Wozniacki, the 2006 Wimbledon junior champion, took her time to master the tricky conditions, hitting numerous unforced errors and going a break down in the third game.

Following an exchange of breaks at the start of the deciding set, she edged ahead by breaking Wozniak again and served out for victory in just under two hours.

"It was tough conditions," said Wozniacki, who, like her rival, is of Polish extraction. "It was windy and it was circling around so you didn't know what to expect."

Reaching the final had prepared her well for Wimbledon, the 18-year-old Wozniacki added. "So many good players were here that for me to be in the final it means that I must play well on the grass and that gives me a lot of confidence."

WTA & ATP Eastbourne finals: LIVE on British Eurosport (Sky 410/Virgin Media 521) at 12pm on Saturday 20th June; also available on your PC via the Eurosport Player - click on the link under the picture to subscribe

Reuters

Comment 1 - 7 of 7

Sort comments by: Most recent
  1. Marion seems fine now! She had a 6-0, 6-0 win against­ Chan in the first round of Wimbledon.

    From JackD, on Tue 23 Jun 7:43AM
  2. Get well soon, Marion!

    From Andrew Broad, on Sat 20 Jun 3:42PM
  3. As far as I know Wozniak is canadian and Wozniacki is­ danish(though with polish parents)...

    From mathiashovmark, on Fri 19 Jun 5:50PM
  4. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Debbie P the crack whore is back, let ready for @#$%­ lads she'll do anything for a fix.

    From FergusO, on Fri 19 Jun 5:34PM
  5. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Bartoli like pulling stunts when she's getting­ creamed.

    From Debbie P, on Fri 19 Jun 5:10PM
  6. Well i have been going to eastbourne for the past 10­ years but not this year.I would of been very­ disappointed if i had of gone with the seeds dropping­ like flys.Last year i was so looking forward to seeing­ Vika Azarenka and she got injured at the start of her­ match.This year Vika pulled out with a hip injury hope­ she ok for wimbledon.
    Bartoli would of won eastbourne­ had she not got injured.Think Wozniacki will win title­ tomorrow.

    From AJ, on Fri 19 Jun 4:29PM
  7. Well i have been going to eastbourne for the past 10­ years but not this year.I would of been very­ disappointed if i had of gone with the seeds dropping­ like flys.Last year i was so looking forward to seeing­ Vika Azarenka and she got injured at the start of her­ match.This year Vika pulled out with a hip injury hope­ she ok for wimbledon.
    Bartoli would of won eastbourne­ had she not got injured.Think Wozniacki will win title­ tomorrow.

    From AJ, on Fri 19 Jun 4:29PM
Sort comments by: Most recent

Not already a Yahoo! user ? to get a free Yahoo! Account