Marion Bartoli and Sabine Lisicki made the final of Wimbledon – just as everyone no one predicted prior to the tournament. The most recognizable WTA names were falling like ripe fruit already in the first few days of the weird Wimbledon 2013 and as the tournament progressed the draw was becoming even more open. In today’s semifinals, last year’s runner-up and the highest seed left, No.4 Agnieszka Radwanska, was also eliminated and the women’s line-up came down to the 2007 Wimbledon finalist Bartoli and debutante in major finals Lisicki.
Six years after her Wimbledon breakthrough, Bartoli repeated the feat, even though once again no one considered her a favorite. Today she stormed past Kirsten Flipkens, a surprise Wimbledon semifinalist who is now thriving under the guidance of Kim Clijsters, by winning almost twice as many points as her opponent en route to a 6-1 6-2 victory. Bartoli believes that her present game is way better than her game in 2007, she said she hits the ball harder, is moving faster and added:
Today, I think if I played myself from six years ago, I would be beating myself quite easily. The speed of my shots, the way I’m moving – I’m just doing everything better, honestly.
Moreover, Bartoli estimates that her circumstances for winning the title are much better now because she has a day off to recover, while in 2007 she had less than 24 hours between her semifinal win over Justine Henin and her final against Venus Williams.
Sabine Lisicki may be allergic to grass, but the German who topped the unbeatable Serena Williams in the fourth round, edged Agnieszka Radwanska in the second semifinal on schedule with a tight 6-4 2-6 9-7 scoreline. After taking the first set by virtue of a break of serve in the seventh game, Lisicki opened the second set with another break. But Radwanska answered right back and from 3-2 the Pole took six straight games which gave her a commanding 3-0 lead in the decider. Of course, Lisicki was not to be written off, she leveled to 3-all and broke again to lead 5-4, but faltered in serving for the set and Radwanska got back in the game, 5-5. Four holds followed before Lisicki broke for 8-7 and quickly served out the match.
Bartoli and Lisicki have played each other four times, including twice at Wimbledon where they have split 1-1. Overall, Lisicki leads Bartoli 3-1 and I believe that she has slightly greater chances of winning the title this time. (photos: © Neal Trousdale, Moo’s Tennis Blog)
What a final! I would never choose them to play for the title 😀 Too bad I can’t watch the match…
But I have to be on Lisicki’s side, she is just playing the tennis of her life. Wow, I still can’t believe Lisicki or Bartoli will win the Wimbledon 2013… It just doesn’t seem real to me 😀 Everyone was saying it’ll be Serena’s title and I thought so too but it’s really nice for a change to have a GS final without Serena, Maria or Vika. I actually think it’s the first time tjat has happened since Li Na vs Schiavone in RG 2011.
The second semi-final was really great, such gripping tennis. I can’t remember the last time we saw such an entertaining semi-final on the ladies side at a Grand Slam.
I’m really happy with the final and much more intrigued by it than one involving Serena. It’s been a shocking Wimbledon, but also very refreshing and both will not get a better chance to win a Grand Slam.
Roll on Saturday 🙂
I certainty didn’t predict this, I am usually pretty good at predicting outcomes.
Pinky, dear, don’t be devastated by your exceptional failure! After all, even the as-good-as-infallible predictions of the (interpreters of the) Mayan calender were wrong, as recently as some half a year ago, remember? It only proves how unreliable the Universe is, you see.
I wish this win to Bartoli as she is getting older and it might be one of her last chances. Anyhow, both of these players deserve the title as they have defeated the odds here. Hopefully they will keep it up the rest of the season and make it to YEC as well.
I WISH SABINE THE VERY BEST IN ALL HER FUTURE MATCHES…I REALLY WISH SHE MADE LESS NUMBER OF ERRORS…AND I WISH SHE WOULD SEND THE BALL IN ALL DIRECTIONS DURING RALLIES …ALSO DO SLICES AND GENERALLY MAKE THE OPONENT RUN…BUT SHE IS YOUNG AND SHE WILL LEARN TO BE A TACTICAN HOPEFULLY VERY SOON…IN ALL OTHER WAYS SHE HAS THE LOVELIEST ATTITUDE TO HER GAME AND SHE IS SUCH A PLEASURE TO WATCH AS SHE SMILES AND CRIES AND GETS PASSIONATELY INVOLVED IN HER GAME.I FELT SO SAD THAT SHE GOT ALL NERVY AND MADE SUCH AN AWFUL MESS OF HER GAME AGAINST MARION….BUT I WANT TO SEE HER REACH THE TOP SEED STATUS AND REMAIN AT THAT POSITION FOR AT LEAST 5 YEARS…I just love this lady …there is something about her which is SPECIAL.