Grass is Past and Marion Bartoli is Ready For Hard Courts

Written by: Staff on 12th July 2012

Grass is Past and Marion Bartoli is Ready For Hard Courts

epa03286046 Marion Bartoli of France returns to Mirjana Lucic of Croatia during their second round match for the Wimbledon Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis Club, in London, Britain, 28 June 2012. EPA/GERRY PENNY |

Marion Bartoli has buried her bad memories of a second-round Wimbledon exit as the French second seed prepares to begin afresh on hardcourts at the WTA Bank of the West Classic. “I have to move on from the grass,” said the 2007 Wimbledon finalist, who also won this week’s northern Californian event in 2009.

“It is a totally different time now, I feel a lot more energized (since she lost so early in London). I hope to carry on this form through the US Open, where I hope to finally pass the second round (after losing in the opening round for the past three editions).”

The No. 10 won a pair of titles last season but has so far missed out in 2012. “Last year I was on top of the wave, but that’s not the case now,” she said. “I have to focus on my game and try to get better.”

The player with the eccentric wind-up serve and habit of hopping in place and swinging at imaginary balls between points admits that she puts a lot into her game. “I get involved emotionally in my matches. When I lose some that I feel I should win, it hurts me a lot.

“I have some bad days and that’s when the people around you play a huge role, said the 27-year-old coached from childhood by her father Walter, a medical doctor.

Bartoli is seeded behind Wimbledon winner Serena Williams who achieved her fifth title at the All England club after a first-round embarrassment at Roland Garros a month ago.

Topics: All England Club, hard tennis court, Marion Bartoli, Serena Williams, West Classic