By IANS
Kolkata : For World No. 10 French woman Marion Bartoli, the Sunfeast Open is an opportunity to climb up the ladder of her ranking for the year-end Madrid Open.
“I want to play Sunfeast Open in order get some valuable points and then go on and play some stronger tournaments in Europe and collect as many points as I can,” said the top seed in the Sunfeast Open here Saturday.
Madrid Open is the women’s tennis version of the Masters in the ATP tour and the top eight point accumulators for the current year get to play in the tournament.
On the points ladder Marion is now ranked ninth behind Serena Williams, whom she needs to overtake in the remaining 75 days to make it to the Madrid Open.
“Besides, I have come to India once before when I played in Hyderabad. I love to see different cities and countries and want to enjoy my stay here,” the Wimbledon finalist said.
Barrtoli stormed into the final of Wimbledon 07 defeating Justin Henin, and then became an instant star though she lost to Venus Williams 3-6, 4-6. In the US Open, she lost in the fourth round to Venus’ sister, Serena Williams, by identical margin of 3-6, 4-6.
Barrtoli said, “Wimbledon has been tough and it took me more than a month to recover. Now I am slowly coming back into the groove.
“Life on tour has been pleasant after the Wimbledon, and I am thinking positive and hoping to win a Grand Slam sooner or later.”
Asked who she considered as the toughest opponent in this WTA Tier III meet, she said, “In a tournament everyone is a tough opponent. It’s no different here. Besides, I don’t know which half of the draw I am in.”
On her experience of playing India’s Sania Mirza, she said, “I played her once before and she was quite cosy in beating me. However, if we meet here it will be a tough match.”
The duo has met once before and Mirza came on top in US Open in 2005.
Bartoli takes on American Vania King in the top half of the draw, the same half in which Mirza is drawn, raising prospects of an early meeting in the tournament.
Marion was born in a little village called Le Puy en Velay on Oct 2, 1984 and grew up there.
“I was born at a town where it was very cold during winter and we had to practise indoors at a hall. The hall was so small that there wasn’t any extra space there behind the baseline. That’s why I have been used to stand inside the baseline. It will remain with me forever,” she said.
Barrtoli said she was inspired by Monica Seles to take up the rare double-handed forehand that has worked wonders for her game.
On her current form, she said, “I am currently at the top of my game and doing pretty well. The French Open has been my turning point. Then came the Wimbledon final.
“I am currently the number one French women, ranked higher in my country than the likes of Emile Mauresmo and Mary Pierce. It feels good.”
Asked which was her favourite surface, Marion said, “Now it’s grass as I am doing so well on it. But I have always done well on the hard courts too.”