Marion Bartoli Wants to Improve From a Very Good Year

Written by: Staff on 30th December 2011

WTA Commonwealth Bank Tournament of Champions in Bali

Marion Bartoli Wants to Improve From a Very Good Year

Marion Bartoli of France serves the ball during her match against Anabel Medina Garrigues of Spain at the WTA Commonwealth Bank Tournament of Champions in Nusa Dua, Bali, Indonesia, 04 November 2011. Garrigues won the match after Bartoli had to withdraw from the match due to an injury. EPA/MADE NAGI |

Marion Bartoli has just enjoyed the greatest season of her career. Now she wants to make 2012 even better.

In an effort to get off to the best possible start she has spent the past two weeks practicing in Perth, where she will begin the season by partnering Richard Gasquet at the Hyundai Hopman Cup.

“I’m living in Europe so I’m practicing there and practicing all winter indoors is not really the best preparation for playing outdoors, especially for the Australian Open,” said the 27-year old, who in 2011 reached the semi-finals of Roland Garros, the quarter-finals of Wimbledon, won two tournaments and ended the season at nine in the world, equaling her best ranking.

“I really needed a two-week practice session to get my game ready. It was a great priority for me to come here and practice. I’m really pleased with everything here so far in Perth.”

She is guaranteed three matches in the coming week – against Li Na, Jarmila Gajdosova and Anabel Medina Garrigues – before going on to the Sydney International and Melbourne.

“That’s great and I think I’m also going to practice with the girls before the tournament so it’s going to be a very good warm-up before Sydney and the Australian Open,” she said. “That’s what we are looking for, having some great matches of preparation before the tournaments in Sydney and Melbourne.”

Topics: Marion Bartoli