Bartoli Beats Lisicki For First Grand Slam Title At Wimbledon

by Staff | July 6th, 2013, 2:14 pm
  • 7 Comments

Six years after reaching her first final, Marion Bartoli became a Grand Slam champion on Saturday beating Sabine Lisicki 6-1, 6-4 to capture the 2013 Wimbledon ladies’ championship.

“Honestly I still can’t believe it,” the eccentric Bartoli said. “I’ve dreamed about this moment for so long. For me, winning Wimbledon is beyond my wildest dreams, let alone with an ace – but I’ve been practicing my serve for so long, I guess I saved it for the best moment! I’m so happy to be holding this trophy.

“This has been my dream since I was six years old.”


The 15th seeded Bartoli double faulted the opening game away but then reeled off the next six games to take to the first set over a visibly nervous and sometimes teary-eyed Lisicki.

After Lisicki left the court at the end of a 30-minute first set, the German played better in the second but still couldn’t gain a foothold against red-hot Bartoli.

The tide turned a little late in the match. Fown 1-5, 15-40 and two matchpoints, Lisicki held and then broke, then held again but it wasn’t enough against Bartoli who cliched the biggest title of her career with an ace.

“I felt I played probably my best match of the Championships,” Bartoli said. “I was doing everything well, moving well returning well. I really played a wonderful match. It’s really amazing to win Wimbledon and to do it playing well, it’s just unbelievable. And to finish on an ace. I could have seen it in slow motion. I could see the ball landing, the chalk coming up. You cannot put any words to what I felt in this moment.”

The 28-year-old Bartoli becomes the third Frenchwoman to win Wimbledon after Suzanne Lenglen and her part-time coach Amelie Mauresmo who did it in 2006.

She also becomes just the sixth woman in the Open Era to win Wimbledon without dropping a set.

Lisicki, who had played so well in upset wins over 2012 finalists Serena Williams and Agnieszka Radwanska, admitted the stage of playing in her first Grand Slam final overwhelmed her.

“It’s an occasion that you don’t get every day,” said Lisicki. “So it’s something completely new for me. But I will learn and take away so much from it. I’ve done that in the past. Experience has always helped me so much. When I was in the quarters here the first time, when I was in the semis for the first time, and now in the final for the first time. I’ve always gained my experience here, which is good.

“I hope that next time it will help me to do that one step further.”


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7 Comments for Bartoli Beats Lisicki For First Grand Slam Title At Wimbledon

Danny Morris Says:

I was rooting for lisicki, but Bartoli was absolutely brutal. Those groundstrokes were laser-like. what a gifted player. she was quite gracious to lisicki and I hope they will teach some class to that classles donkey on grass sharaBOA.

July 6th, 2013 at 3:52 pm


Esquilax Says:

I turned it off after the first two games ended with pathetic double-faults.

I saw in this mornings’ news highlights that the game ended with a Lisicki return into the net. How appropriate.

Women’s Tennis is the pits; who loses the least wins.

It’s incredible to think they get the same prize money as the men. Unwatchable.

July 6th, 2013 at 7:47 pm


Polo Says:

Yes, next time those women demand equal pay, show them a video of this Wimbledon ladies final and then the Djokovic-del Potro semifinal. No, the Murray-Verdasco quarterfinal would be enough. No still too much. Just show them any of the men’s matches.

July 6th, 2013 at 7:55 pm


Peter Says:

Bartoli was excellent: focused, quick, precise, determined during the match; gracious, eloquent, charming after it.

Lisicki was… nothing of the above.

Well, at least she can cry and fish for crowd’s sympathy with the best of them.

July 6th, 2013 at 9:00 pm


Michael Says:

Who would have ever imagined that Bartoli would have emerged as the Wimbledon Champion. What is remarkable that she did this feat without beating a top 20 player which is unique by itself. But does that count when her name has been engraved in the prestigious list of Wimbledon Champions ? She was helped by the fact that Lisicki’s nerves got to her and she just couldn’t execute her big game. Lisiciki was overwhelmed by the big occasion and she just couldn’t fulfil the expectations out of her. She is young and let us hope she will have another day.

July 6th, 2013 at 11:30 pm


Syam Lee Says:

Congrats to Marion Bartoli on a well-deserved win for her maiden slam, 6 years after her first major final. It is always nice to see a first timer slam champion pulling it off, much less a pleasant player like Marion. Hope to see her around in the 2nd week of more majors to come, and hopefully another or two more slams before she eventually calls it a day.

July 7th, 2013 at 5:51 am


steve-o Says:

Very disappointing performance from Lisicki, who seemed like the proverbial deer in the headlights until 5-1 down in the second set. Then again, she had a much tougher path to the final, taking out two great players. Mentally she had to have a letdown, especially after such a tough semi when she served to stay in the match three times in the final set.

All of Bartoli’s opponents were seeded beneath her. She had a very easy run to the final. She played well in the final for sure, but I would not say she had to do much besides being solid and focused. Lisicki did not really push Bartoli until the end of the second set, when it was way too late. But credit to Bartoli for serving it out in such a dominant fashion.

Here I have to admit I am biased against Bartoli. Her affectations (shadowboxing, etc.) are obnoxious, and she is not the most sporting player (intimidating her opponents with fistpumps, screams, etc.) Her game is also not very engaging.

Lisicki is a very likable and emotional player–perhaps too emotional, as we saw yesterday. She wears her heart on her sleeve, which makes her likable but is not conducive to being a champion.

Her game is more classical for grass courts, big serve, explosive groundstrokes and net-rushing. At her best, she should have readily beaten a baseliner like Bartoli.

I don’t know how many more chances Lisicki is going to get. She’s 24, which is not that young. And next year who knows. The woman’s tour is so chaotic, things could be totally different. It could be ages before she makes another Wimbledon final–if she ever does. I hope she does, and soon, because it’s refreshing to see that sort of old-fashioned grass tennis.

July 7th, 2013 at 1:36 pm

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