Marion Bartoli v Sabine Lisicki: Wimbledon 2013 final - as it happened
Marion Bartoli won her first grand slam title with a 6-1, 6-4 win overSabine Lisicki, who was overwhelmed by her nerves
Preamble
Hello. Boom Boom goes the dynamite. Sabine Lisicki is in her firstWimbledon final and everyone is so very delighted to see her here. Doris Becker to the English and Boom Boom Bina to the Germans, Lisicki has stolen our hearts over the past fortnight, beating Serena Williams and Agnieszka Radwanska in two stunning matches. We love her smile, we love her serve, we love her shots. We love her (although the talk is her fellow players think she's a drama queen). We love a German and everyone's totally fine with that. We've come so far. And we've reached so high. And we've looked each day and night in the eye. Sorry, it's been a long old fortnight and it's not even done yet.
So Lisicki, the first German in the final since Steffi Graf lost to LindsayDavenport in 1999, will have the support of the Centre Court crowd against Marion Bartoli, who we are contractually obliged to refer to as endearingly eccentric, this afternoon. France's Bartoli, the 15th seed, says she doesn't mind. "Well, I don't think I will have the whole crowd against me," she quipped yesterday. "At the end of the day, she's not British, as far as I know." That is indeed correct and maybe, just maybe, the crowd will also take to Bartoli, with her two-handed groundstrokes, her odd serving action and her insistence on practising her shots in between points. Unlike Lisicki, she has been here before. This is her second Wimbledon final, six years after she lost her first, and few people expected her to be here at the start of the week.
But here she is, 28 years wise, and she hasn't lost a set yet. She's clearly benefited both from splitting with her father Walter, who will be in her box today, and from working with the French Tennis Federation, the former Wimbledon champion and Fed Cup captain, Amelie Mauresmo, and her new hitting partner, Thomas Drouet. But it might not be enough against the power of Lisicki. Both players hit the ball hard but Lisicki hits it harder. She has 39 aces to Bartoli's 12 and her serve can reach ascorching speed of 122mph. Lisicki, who beat Bartoli at Wimbledon two years ago and leads their head-to-head record 3-1, is the heavy favourite – though she has been known to lose focus for long periods. Bartoli will have to capitalise on those moments when Boom Boom loses her spark.
Play begins at: 2pm.
The umpire is: Eva Asderaki.
Only 230,000 people in Germany watched Sabine Lisicki's semi-final win over Agnieszka Radwanska and only 70,000 watched the win over Serena Williams because Wimbledon isn't being shown on terrestrial TV over there. Apparently the final isn't either. In France, it's being shown on Canal+.
Prounciation problems abound
"Jacob, Sabine is about to win Wimbledon and yet nobody here is pronouncing her lastname properly," says Victor Kruchinkin. "Just to be clear, it is NOT Lee-zee-kee! It's more like Lee-seet-ski. With the stresson the seet. But this is the male version of the lastname in any event - due to her parents moving to Germany, where the whole family has the same lastname, same as in the UK. In Eastern Europe, there are male and female versions of the same lastnames, hence SharapovA, KuznetsovA, SafinA etc. The male versions of these names is Sharapov, Kuznetsov, Safin. Something very similar happens in Poland [and despite being born and growing up in Germany, both of Sabine's parents are Polish! Same as Wozniacki and Kerber actually].
"The male last name ending is ski. The female last name ending is ska. So not only is Lisicki pronounce wrong by all and sundry at Wimbledon, but it's the wrong form of her lastname in the first place! She's really Sabine Lisicka, pronounce Lee-SEET-ska. Hope that clears things up. Oh, and Jerzy Janowicz is actually Yeah-zhee [with the zh sound the same as you pronounce the g in the word mirage] Yah-noh-veech! With the stress on the YEAH and the NOH. Commentators, do your homework please! And no, I'm not Polish, but I'm sure a native will back me up!"
"We know that Lisicki is the tabloid favourite, the sponsors' favourite, the BBC favourite and the Centre Court favourite," says Sasu Laaksonen. "That makes Marion Bartoli the people's champion, hopefully."
Bartoli was great value in her press conference yesterday - charmingand witty. Here's a funny little exchange from it:
Q. In 2007, you invited Pierce Brosnan to come and watch you.MB: I knew that was coming [laughter].Q. Have you sent out any special invites this year? Daniel Craig not there for you?MB: Ryan Gosling maybe [laughter].
HERE COME THE PLAYERS!
They're being led through the winding corridors from the locker room and out on to Centre Court. Marion Bartoli is walking a few paces in front of Sabine Lisicki. What can we read into that? Absolutely nothing. But someone, somewhere, will be trying to do precisely that. The camera focuses in on Lisicki. She's got her headphones in and she's got a huge smile on her face. They've both got a bouquet of flowers. Make sure not to confuse them with your racket, ladies. That would be an unfortunate turn of events.
THE ROYAL BOX!
It's the 40th anniversary of the formation of the WTA and Billie-Jean King is in there, along with Martina Navratilova, Jana Novotna, Virginia Wade and Martina Hingis. Alan Rickman, Mark Foster and Bill Bryson are on the list too but I'm not sure they've got anything to do with the WTA. Watch out for some hilarious comedy pratfalls too. Miranda Hart has snuck an invite.
First set: Bartoli* 0-1 Lisicki (*denotes server): It's Marion Bartoli to open the serving in the 127th women's singles final at Wimbledon. One hundred and twenty-seven! Good going, everyone! She wins the first point with a fine serve - no nerves here - but then loses the next, drifting a backhand wide. That's the cue for Lisicki to unleash a thumping forehand winner off a Bartoli serve, before an accurate backhand down the line gives her two break points. What a start this is from the German. Bartoli saves both, though, the first with a fine backhand and the second with a composed forehand after the ball had clipped the top of the net. But then she double-faults to give Lisicki a third chance. Lisicki doesn't need to do anything, though. Bartoli misses her first serve and her second hits the top of the net and plops into the tramlines. Lisicki breaks in the very first game. What a way for Bartoli to lose the first game of a grand slam final.
First set: Bartoli 1-1 Lisicki* (*denotes server): You can't really be hitting two double-faults in a row in the first game of a Wimbledon final, especially against an opponent who serves so well. It looks like Lisicki is suffering from a few jitters too, though. Bartoli scraps her way to 15-30 and then gets two break points when Lisicki misses a forehand. The German saves the first with an accurate serve out wide but then she double-faults too. Ouch. That's got to hurt.
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First set: Bartoli* 2-1 Lisicki (*denotes server): This has been an error-strewn start from both players. It's soon 30-all, wild swings from both flying long, wide and into the net. Lisicki then has a look at a tame second-serve but her forehand down the line zips wide and an ace down the middle from Bartoli seals the first hold of the match.
First set: Bartoli 3-1 Lisicki* (*denotes server): Bartoli is settling down now. On the first point, a clever drop-shot draws Lisicki forward and her forehand drops long to make it 0-15. A lame forehand into the net from Lisicki then makes it 0-30. She's all over the place out there. Is the occasion getting to her? At the moment, you'd have to say it is. She gets it back to 15-30 but Bartoli then wins a terrific point, her superior feel at the net earning her two break points. A kicking second serve from Lisicki tempts Bartoli but her backhand is halted by that pesky net. One break point saved. But not the second. Lisicki nets a backhand and Bartoli breaks again. "Allez!" she shouts. The Centre Court crowd is subdued. They weren't especially generous with their applause there.
First set: Bartoli* 4-1 Lisicki (*denotes server): At 15-0, Bartoli goes toe-to-toe with Lisicki from the back of the court, hangs in there and then eventually overpowers the German to make it 30-0. She's recovered so well from that horrible opening game. Bartoli holds to love.
"While we're on the subject of the correct way to pronounce slavic tennis players names, might I be allowed to point out that SharapOva is actually SharApova, KuznetsOva is KuznEtsova, SafIna is SAfina, and so forth," says Matthew Carey. "I think the confusion stems from NavratilOva, which may actually be pronounced NavratilOva (I don't speak Czech names). In any case, Russian is not Spanish or Italian and the stress does not invariably fall on the penultimate syllable. Please post this. My failure of a life would be immeasurably improved if just one person pronounced SharApova correctly."
IGNORE THIS ENTRY EXCEPT FOR THE EMAIL! IT'S A BOGUS ENTRY WRITTEN BY AN EEDJIT!
First set: Bartoli 4-2 Lisicki* (*denotes server): "Yes!" cries Lisicki after putting away a volley at the net to make it 30-15. She needs something to blast away the nerves and the rust. At 40-15, though, she clunks a forehand wide to make it 40-30 and put a little bit of pressure back on. Another missed forehand makes it deuce and a backhand into the net gives Bartoli a break point. She's feeling very lonely right now. An ace down the middle makes her feel a bit better. She holds to stay in contention in the first set.
"Misery," says Jon Horsley. "I am not allowed to watch the match cause my chicken pox suffering son is insisting on The Jungle Book. Instead i am reading your coverage and calling Baloo "Marion Beartoli". Anyone want to start a Disney tennis player punfest? God chickenpox sucks. As soon as it is over it will rain too. And there is not even a proper bugle this weekend either." I really, really don't but I do feel your pain. Let's see what your fellow readers have got.
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I'VE GOT IN SOMETHING OF A MESS THERE! THE PREVIOUS GAME IS STILL GOING ON! IGNORE! IGNORE! PULITZER HEADING MY WAY!
THE ACTUAL SIXTH GAME!
First set: Bartoli 5-1 Lisicki* (*denotes server): Lisicki is actually out of the first set. At deuce, a double-fault gives Bartoli a break point and she then hits long to give Bartoli yet another break. Bartoli will serve for the first set. D'oh! It's been a long week.
MARION BARTOLI WINS THE FIRST SET 6-1!
So here's Marion Bartoli serving to win the first set of this Wimbledon final, somethign which didn't seem very likely when she was broken in the very first game of the match. But what a turnaround since then. She's won five games in a row and how she wants to make it six. Yet more unforced errors from Lisicki give Bartoli three set points and she only needs one as Lisicki whacks a backhand into the net. Oh dear. That was horrible to watch from Lisicki's perspective but Bartoli has played so well, with so much poise and clarity. Her tactics have been outstanding.
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Sabine Lisicki, desperately in need of a moment to collect her thoughts, walked off at the end of the first set for a toilet break.She's back now but she looks so emotional. That was a desperate set of tennis, one of the worst you will ever see from a finalist.
Second set: Bartoli 6-1, 0-1 Lisicki* (*denotes server): If Lisicki is to win this final, she has to win this game. And suddenly she looks like a totally different player. Two searing backhands make it 40-0, although Bartoli then puts away a smash to make it 40-15. A big serve sees Lisicki hold for the first time in the match. That took 36 minutes.
Updated
Second set: Bartoli* 6-1, 1-1 Lisicki (*denotes server): So many double-faults. Bartoli basically hits two first serves and it's sometimes her undoing. One makes it 30-all and then a long backhand brings it to deuce, before Bartoli drags a backhand wide to give Lisicki a break point. This is potentially crucial but she's still not right. Lisicki hits a forehand that almost ends up at the back of the stand but she gets another chance when Bartoli double-faults. But yet again, Lisicki lets it go to waste. Her frustration grows. She gets a third chance but Bartoli saves it magnificently with some proactive tennis at the net, taking the ball out of the air with a backhand volley. A fourth break point follows though but Bartoli again denies her with a wonderful backhand winner from left to right. This is huge from Bartoli and she holds when Lisicki hoicks a forehand wide.
"Jacob, it will be hilarious to see the BBC's muted reaction should Bartoli win this, since so many people want Lisicki to win, and Bartoli has clearly not read the script and has her own ideas!" says Victor Kruchinkin. "She's clearly settled her nerves much better than Lisicki has, even if that's sort of expected due to 5 years' extra experience, as well as having been here 6 years before...Bartoli is halfway there!"
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Second set: Bartoli 6-1, 2-1 Lisicki* (*denotes server): Marion Bartoli produces the shot of the match, a piercing backhand down the line to go up 0-15 ... although HawkEye actually showed it was out. Lisicki didn't challenge it, which sums up her state of mind at the moment. It's definitely not on Centre Court. Lisicki then misses a backhand and hits a double-fault to give Bartoli three points. An ace saves one but that's as close as Lisicki gets. She tries a drop-shot but Bartoli reads it and when Lisicki hangs the ball up at the net, Bartoli punches it away with a smash. She's four games away from winning her first grand slam title!
Marianka Swain has some Disney puns for us.
Who Framed Roger Federer?
Grand Slambi
The Lion Billie Jean King
Atlantis: The Lost Umpire
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Second set: Bartoli* 6-1, 3-1 Lisicki (*denotes server): This could have been a fantastic final but Lisicki is so hesitant and so tight. It's hard to remember a worst performance in a final, especially as she was the hot favourite. She's walked out of the locker room totally cold though. When she wakes up tomorrow morning, she'll wonder if this was all a bad dream. That's if she gets to sleep tonight. Bartoli holds to 30. "Andy Mowgli," says Jon Matthews. "I'm done."
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Second set: Bartoli 6-1, 4-1 Lisicki* (*denotes server): This is painful to watch. From a deep position out on the left, Lisicki tries a drop-shot. It dribbles into the net to make it 15-all. She then goes for a different approach, a powerful backhand and a charge to the net but there's a huge gap for Bartoli to hit down the line and she doesn't miss her backhand. 15-30. She digs in to make it 40-30 but an abominable double-fault makes it deuce. She hangs her head. What is going on? She must want the ground to swallow her up whole. Another double-fault gives Bartoli a break point. Lisicki is almost in tears as she serves now and she's let off the hook as Bartoli cracks a forehand return into the net. But she still can't do anything right and a backhand into the tramlines gives Bartoli another break point. Lisicki nets and I fear this final is over. There is no hiding place in tennis. Lisicki looks at her box with tears in her eyes. This is dreadful. Her mother is on the verge of tears too. No one's really getting anything out of this. Apart from Bartoli, obviously. It's not her problem.
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Second set: Bartoli* 5-1 Lisicki (*denotes server): Bartoli is showing no mercy and why should she? She holds to love and is a game away now. I doubt Lisicki is going to make her serve for it."Marcos Bagheera-dhatis," says David Hahn.
Second set: Bartoli 6-1, 5-2 Lisicki* (*denotes server): Sabine Lisicki is serving to stay in this final. Actually, that's not right. She's there in body but her spirit departed long ago. Bartoli gets off to the perfect start with a superb backhand return off the serve and Lisicki then misses a backhand to make it 0-30. Bartoli is two points away from the title. She's one point away when Lisicki misses a gimme of a forehand to give Bartoli two championship points. But Lisicki saves both, summoning up something from somewhere to cling on for dear life. It's a bit too late for this now and another error gives Bartoli a third championship point. But she can't take it! She nets a backhand and Lisicki then blasts down a big serve to give herself a chance of winning the game. An ace earns her a huge ovation from the crowd. Bartoli will have to serve for it. Is this the start of a unlikely comeback?
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Second set: Bartoli* 6-1, 5-3 Lisicki (*denotes server): Now Marion Bartoli's nerves will be jangling. She couldn't take three championship points and now she has to serve it out for her first grand slam title. And Lisicki, suddenly looking more like her old self, introduces a smidgen of doubt by winning the first point with a cushioned forehand volley at the net. Well now. Bartoli responds with a raking cross-court backhand to make it 15-all but then she double-faults to make it 15-30. Suddenly you find yourself wondering. But Bartoli wants this so much and a scorching backhand down the line makes it 30-all. Two points. Two measly points. That's all she needs. But she needs to save a break point first after netting a forehand. 30-40 and The mood is changing - and Bartoli whacks a forehand long! Oh me, oh my! Sabine Lisicki has finally arrived and now it's Bartoli who's choking!
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Second set: Bartoli, 6-1, 5-4 Lisicki* (*denotes server): Of course, Lisicki still has to hold and then break again. The end is still nigh. But it's being kept at bay. A cracking backhand from Lisicki wrongfoots Bartoli and makes it 30-15 and a forehand down the line on the run makes it 40-15. She holds with a pumping forehand and, finally, we've got an actual match on our hands. But Bartoli will get the opportunity to serve for the match again. She's going to have a lot to think about during the changeover. She's playing one dangerous and wounded animal.
MARION BARTOLI IS THE WIMBLEDON CHAMPION!
SHE WINS 6-1, 6-4! Marion Bartoli must serve for the title again. No pressure. It's not like she made a total mess of it the last time. But this is so impressive given what happened the last time she served for it. She wins a huge first point to make it 15-0 and then Lisicki hits a backhand wide to make it 30-0. Bartoli is two points away. Soon she's got three more match points. What must be going through her head now? She takes a moment to compose herself. This is surely it now. And it is! Bartoli smashes an ace out wide and Lisicki's fleeting resistance is at an end! We have a new Wimbledon champion!
The applause is warm but restrained. The crowd didn't really get a proper final or the champion they wanted. As if Marion Bartoli cares. She charges into her box to share a hug with her father and the rest of her team before heading back down on to the court. She can hardly believe it. She's won Wimbledon without dropping a set and she's a worthy champion. A champion absolutely no one predicted at the start of the tournament and this morning, most people were tipping Sabine Lisicki. For her, this is the most agonising defeat of her career. She's in tears on her chair. She never turned up.
Sabine Lisicki walks up to collect her consolation prize. She's red-eyed but she's smiling at last. There's always next year.
And here's Marion Bartoli to collect her trophy. She shakes her head in disbelief. It must all be a blur right now. Here's what Sabine Lisicki, fighting back the tear, has to say in a very wobbly voice. She chokes up like a German Andy Murray at the end.
"Yes, I think I was overwhelmed by the whole situation. Credit to Marion, she handled that perfectly. She deserves it. I hope I'll get the chance one more time as well. I still love this tournament. I still love this court. I love you guys. You've supported me the entire tournament and you supported me to try to get my over my nerves. But Marion was too good. I want to thank my entire team for being there for me. This was my first grand slam final and I hoped I would have won it and I hope I will get this chance one more time."
Marion Bartoli speaks. She's crying too. Everyone's crying.
"I just can't believe. Forgive me for my English mistakes, I'm French at the end of the day. As a little girl I dreamed about this for so long. I know how this feels Sabine and I'm sure you will be there one more time. For me finishing an ace to win Wimbledon, even I couldn't have believed that. I have been practicing my serve for so long, at least i saved it for the best moment. I have some words for my box. First of all, my dad who is here today. It means so much. It has been my dream since I was six years old. I would like to thank everyone in the crowd who supported me."
And with Centre Court in danger of being drowned by the tears, that is all. Marion Bartoli is the champion. She didn't lose a single set throughout the entire tournament, which is an astonishing achievement. Sabine Lisicki is off to lick her wounds. She'll be back next year. Thanks for reading and emailing. Bye for now.
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