French Federation Now To Search For Hopman Cup Bartoli Replacement

Written by: Bob Larson Tennis on 19th August 2013

French Federation Now To Search For Hopman Cup Bartoli Replacement

epa03778070 Marion Bartoli of France celebrates with the trophy after her victory over Sabine Lisicki of Germany in the women's final for the Wimbledon Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis Club, in London, Britain, 06 July 2013. EPA/ANDY RAIN |

January’s Hopman Cup has been blindsided by the shock retirement from tennis of Wimbledon champion Marion Bartoli. Tournament officials at the eight-nation mixed team as event are now scratching to come up with a French female to replace Bartoli alongside Jo-Wilfried Tsonga at the event in Perth, Western Australia.

“It was news to me and to the whole tennis world really,” tournament director Paul Kilderry told local media. “We have already started looking to find her replacement. There are a lot of good French girls and we will certainly have a good partner for Jo.”

Bartoli was line up for a second Hopman appearance, with her July Wimbledon championship only adding to the luster of the event which begins the tennis season. Bartoli and Richard Gasquet reached the final for France at the January, 2012 edition, losing to Czechs Petra Kvitova and Tomas Berdych.

Tournament officials have yet to announce further names in the field for the event, to be played under the moveable roof of the new Perth arena for the second year after moving from the Burswood Dome.