I was tactically outplayed: Bartoli

By IANS

Kolkata : Top seed and World No. 12 Marion Bartoli said that she was tactically outplayed by Vania King, who defeated her in straight sets, at the Sunfeast Open.


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Vania, who turned pro only last year, broke Bartoli in the fourth and sixth games of the first set to win the match 6-1, 7-5 in the match played Tuesday night.

The second set was more competitive with Vania constantly putting pressure on Bartoli’s service with her quick movements on the court and powerful down the line returns.

Vania got four break points in the third game, but Bartoli managed to save them. The games went with serves till the eighth, but in the ninth game, Vania broke the Wimbledon finalist to go up 5-4.

Bartoli bounced back in the very next game, but Vania demolished her rival in the 11th game to lead 6-5.

Serving for the match, Vania hit a good passing shot and finally wrapped up the 98-minute tussle with an ace.

“I had never played her before. So I was not tactically prepared. The slow surface also helped her to return the balls better,” Bartoli said after her defeat.

Vania, who had partnered with Sania Mirza to win the Morocco Open doubles crown, said after the match: “Marion has a tendency to dominate from the word go. My game plan was not to let her do so and make her move a lot. And I guess the ploy worked for me.”

“I never go into a match thinking I will win this. But I also think every match is poised at 50-50 before the start. You just have to back yourself and take your chances and I did just that,” Vania added.

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