Eastbourne AEGON International. June 18 2011 Marion Bartoli

M. BARTOLI/P. Kvitova

           

6‑1, 4‑6, 7‑5

        

        

MARION BARTOLI

        

            Q.  How does it feel to win again?  You have had a lot of near misses.

            MARION BARTOLI:  Yeah.  Well, I had a great start of the season, honestly, best I ever had.  I was pleased with my results.  But of course coming here with a title, especially here it was extremely tough.  I think we were 7 out of the top 10 players plus Venus and Serena Williams.  So it was definitely a very hard task to win the tournament.

            So it's great just to come up with a win.  But, you know, it was a huge challenge again today.

            Q.  You had to fight really hard for that, didn't you?

            MARION BARTOLI:  Yeah.  Playing two matches back to back in the same day, I was not used to that anymore.  It reminds me of my junior time when we had to play two matches a day.

            But, you know, I think it was an entertaining match even if I had the lead the second set, I could close it out, but Petra start to play very well.

            She was hitting the ball very hard and very deep, so she had all the credit to coming back.  Then at the end it was just fighting and trying to find a way to win.

            Q.  How is your thigh?

            MARION BARTOLI:  It was more the hamstrings, but I think because of the wind, you know, I land funny on my side.  I thought the ball would be coming much more towards me.  At the end, the ball stops so I have to go to the ball, and I think I just ‑‑ my muscles start to get tight and stretch a little bit.

            So I think I just stretch it a little bit too much on this ball.  After, with the tape and the support I receive with the tape, it was better.

            Now I have two days off, so I'm definitely gonna be okay for Wimbledon, 100% sure.

            Q.  The wind was worrying you a lot, wasn't it, in your matches out there?  Did you find it was a real worry, the wind?

            MARION BARTOLI:  Not worried.  You know, when you play a match it happens.  Sometimes you're leading and your opponent keeps coming back; sometimes you're losing and you're coming back.

            My first‑round match I had match point against me, and I ended up winning the match and winning the tournament.

            So, I mean, it's like this.  Especially on a day like that when it's extremely windy, you can have the wind against you and then all of a sudden your opponent has a lot more power into her shots and it happens.

            So I was not worried.  I was just trying my best out there.  Of course I would have been happier to finish in two sets, but Petra fought extremely well, and she deserved to come back.  It could have gone either way, and in the end it went my way.

            Q.  Stosur said it was the worst conditions she had ever played in.  What did you find really bad out there?

            MARION BARTOLI:  Well, of course it was difficult.  But I think it's the same for both players.  At the end, on my opinion, I'm trying not to get too complaining too much about the conditions, because otherwise I can't focus on my game.

            So they are there.  There is nothing I can do against it.  I just have to deal with it.  Of course it was tough.  I can't say it was easy.  Definitely was very tough to play in those conditions, but you have to try your best.  I just try.

            Q.  What do you feel this does for your Wimbledon prospects?

            MARION BARTOLI:  Well, you know what?  I'm too tired to think about anything right now.  I just think I have to pack my suitcase and drive tonight towards Wimbledon.  My mom is waiting for me to with a nice dinner.  That's the only thing I want to think about.

            Q.  It is a more open year for women, people are saying.  Would you agree with that?

            MARION BARTOLI:  Well, I have been hearing that every single Grand Slam or every single tournament since the beginning of the year, so, you know, I think it's great to see some new faces.  For example, Li Na from China winning the French Open has been the first woman ever from China to win a Grand Slam.

            So it brought some new faces in the first place and to win Grand Slam, so I think it's great.  But I think everyone is extremely difficult to play against.

            Again, my first‑round match I had the match point against me.  So you have to be really careful for every single match and not thinking too much of winning in Wimbledon right away just because I won there.

            So I know my first‑round match in Wimbledon is going to be a new challenge and another start, and I have to be extremely careful with my two days that I have now off to take some rest and get ready again and be mentally focused.

            Q.  How does this tough wind compare to others you have had?

            MARION BARTOLI:  Well, it reminds me a little bit the one I had in Stanford in 2009 where also the draw were extremely tough.  I had to beat back to back Jelena Jankovic who was top 10 at this time, Sam Stosur in the semis, and Venus Williams in the finals.

            So the draw was also extremely tough at this time, and the match in the final were lasting for more than three hours or something like that.

            So it really reminds me this kind of tournament.  But after that I took one week off and I rest.  So now I have a Grand Slam that's coming up.  It's another story.

            But I think since two years I really improve physically, as well.  I'm going to have 48 hours to really relax and get ready again.

            Q.  Is grass your favorite surface, or can you explain why you play so well on it?

            MARION BARTOLI:  Well, I can't say now I play really bad on clay because I just made the semifinal of a Grand Slam.  But, you know, I think playing flat and early really helps on grass because obviously it's tougher to defend.  But now I can enough enjoy on every surface.

            Q.  How did you enjoy Eastbourne this week?

            MARION BARTOLI:  Well, I always love to come back to Eastbourne, even sometimes I was not winning the title.  It has been my ‑‑ I have been in the semifinal for four years in a row, and this year I got the title.

            So I always love to come back here.  I think we had some great matches, and it's very good preparation before Wimbledon.  The courts are great.  Of course it's windy, but then when you get in Wimbledon, it's not windy, I think it makes it a lot easier.

            I really love to come back here.  Obviously this year it works out well for me.

            Q.  Did you try the fish and chips?

            MARION BARTOLI:  Did I try the fish and chips?  No, that's not good for my diet, I guess.  (Laughter.)

            No, I have been sticking to ‑‑ no, I tried ‑‑ well, one day it was sunny, I think it was Tuesday, I got an ice cream.  It was the only day it was sunny.  (Laughter.)

But I'm gonna celebrate this time with something a bit special because I got the title.  Yeah, I think I played two matches today so I deserve a bit of something.

            Q.  Do you know what that something is?

            MARION BARTOLI:  I'm sure I'm gonna find out.  Don't worry for that.  Anything will work, I think.

Roland Garros June 2 2011 - Marion Bartoli

F. SCHIAVONE/M. Bartoli

           

6‑3, 6‑3

           

           

MARION BARTOLI

 

            Q.  There was quite a bit of pressure on you being French and semifinals of the French Open.  You seemed to handle it very, very well.  Can you interpret what happened for us and what you think the big difference was?

            MARION BARTOLI:  Yeah, exactly.  I think I handled the pressure well, but I think Francesca played extremely well today with the conditions.  It was extremely windy, and I think she used those conditions extremely well.

            So she really played smart tennis, and at the end she was a bit too tough.  But I really believe if I had this 4‑all game ‑‑ I was down 4‑3, 40‑15 on my serve, and if I was able to hold my serve at this time I think the match could still turn around.

            But when she was leading 5‑3 she really start to play a lot better, and from this point it was tough.  I think I didn't play a bad match, but she played a bit too good today.

            THE MODERATOR:  French questions, please.

            Q.  We had the feeling that the changes between her slice and her lift and the wind completely disturbed your game.

            MARION BARTOLI:  Yes, it was very windy.  I don't know if you felt it outside of the court, but on the court it was extremely difficult because the clay was being blown away.  So her spin became more effective and her slice bounced even lower.

            I really tried to hit the ball early as much as I could, but in spite of that, I really needed to adjust a lot to these balls.  I couldn't stay in the middle of the court.  I had to move a lot, and physically it became difficult because I had to make much more effort than in my former matches.

            On my serve, when I was serving against the wind, I was able to be up in the score.  But when she was serving with the wind behind her, she had an advantage.

            So as I said, if I had been able to win that game and be 4‑All I think it would be different.  I think she played extremely well, and I believe her game is less affected by the wind than mine.

            Q.  Did you manage the approach to that match differently from other matches?  Were you more nervous, more tense?

            MARION BARTOLI:  I don't believe I didn't manage the situation well.  On the contrary.  And I don't think I lost that match because of that.  Up to 3‑All, the game was very tight.  I was playing well.  Normally when you are very tense and under pressure, you start your match very poorly.

            But this was not the case today.  Until 3‑All there were very good rallies and I was playing well.

            But as I said, I used a lot more energy to produce my game, and also, she was playing extremely well.  She really deserves her victory.  If I lost today it's because she played extremely well.  You have to give her credit for that.

            Q.  You started off very well.  You only lost two points on your serve.  But after, when it was 40‑15, you made a double fault.  She made a forehand winner.

            MARION BARTOLI:  Yes, I'm talking about that game.  I was up 40‑15 on my serve.  I was on the bad side because the wind was against me.  Even if I was hitting hard, my serve was slowed down by the wind.  She was able to turn around her backhand and hit her forehand, and I believe this was a key game.

            Without the wind, I might have been able to win that game.  But again, she played extremely well today.  And even if I had made that game and been 4‑All, I would have lost the match all the same.

            Q.  But you had another chance in the beginning of the second set 2‑Love.

            MARION BARTOLI:  Yes, I had my chance today.  But I think what happened also is I felt tired.  I was spending too much energy to produce my game, so that explains that sometimes when I was up in the score it cost me a few key points.  That explains that I lost.

            Q.  I understand that the final is not as interesting for you now, but about Schiavone, what do you think will be the effect of the wind on Schiavone's game against Na Li?  There's a contrast between those games.

            MARION BARTOLI:  Francesca feels really good here.  She's very comfortable on that type of clay.  That clay really makes her spin very disturbing, so her game can really bother Li Na because she likes when the opponent plays fat.

            And also, Francesca won here once, where Na Li didn't win here yet, and she has less experience.  So that might give an advantage to Francesca.  I'm sure the match will be tight, but I think maybe Francesca is a favorite.

            Q.  You played your best tennis of your whole career during this tournament.  How can you explain those improvements in your game?  Is it technical improvements or physical fitness that improved, or what?

            MARION BARTOLI:  It's all that.  First I improved physically, and then I am a lot more confident, or I have been since I have been here, because before this tournament I had many doubts.  I was not sure I was able to play on clay.

            This year I worked a lot on that, and I was very happy to reach the final in Strasbourg on that surface.  It was very good for my confidence and it helped me in this particular tournament to go one step further.

            As, you know, you get used to the surface point after point.  So even if I have tough matches, I played a lot on clay.  I still believe clay is not my best surface, far from that.

            Of course, being in the semis I can't say I'm not able to play on clay, but I need to make more efforts on this surface than other surfaces.

            So mentally I had to work a lot ‑ and physically I had to work a lot ‑ too to be able to do well here.  Because psychologically I was a bit blocked.  So mentally I was not able to be confident, and also I had physical problems.

            So being able to do well here feels very good.

            Q.  Are you happy with this tournament?  What lessons do you draw from this tournament?

            MARION BARTOLI:  Well, what stay with me is that I'm very happy to have reached the semifinal, and also I had many emotions on the court with my family.

            Those emotions, I shared them with my father, but also with my brother, my mother.  To bring them that kind of happiness is a great satisfaction for me.

            And also the fact that I'm able to play well in France and that I can have the public supporting me, it's enormous satisfaction.  I think that is what I will remember from this tournament.

            Q.  Do you believe this will be a turning point in your career?

            MARION BARTOLI:  It's a bit too early to say whether it will be or not.  I think I need to use that loss to draw the lessons and improve even more.  I have to work on parts of my game that can be improved.

            So what I need now is to have a plan to improve my game.  I can't just be satisfied with this.  I think the fact that I went one step further here will help me.  Maybe not this year, but I hope next year.

            Q.  Since the beginning of your career, you never were so much in the press.  We saw you on TV with your family.  We even saw your grandfather on TV today; whereas most of the time you seem to prefer a secret life.  So are you going to accept this, being in the media all the time?  You will be respected and loved by everyone in France, or do you feel maybe some people are more reluctant?

            MARION BARTOLI:  I don't believe love or affection comes from the fact that I expose my private life to the public.  I think it's just because they appreciate my attitude on the court.  I don't believe they need to know what I had for breakfast.

            Now, if I have very good results, it's normal that the media get interested.  But this is not why I'm playing tennis.  It is pleasant to be supported by the public.  This is what I remember more than any articles in the newspapers.

            So what I want to see is the positive aspect, so there's no distrust.  During the whole year, I mean, we are exposed to the media, so when the year is finished and I'm home, I prefer to protect my privacy.  I don't like to be spied upon.

            Q.  Do you believe what happened here is the best preparation for Wimbledon?

            MARION BARTOLI:  Well, the first thing I have to do is to recuperate properly.  As you imagine, after a Grand Slam tournament ‑ and in France on top of it ‑ you waste your energy and you have to recharge the batteries.  Wimbledon is very close, only two weeks, and I have to change surfaces now.  It's a lot of adjustments to make.

            But I remember that when I started having good results on grass it was after having good results here, and I hope it's going to continue that way.  But I will need to do a lot of practice and be very modest.

            I can't think that because I played well here I am automatically going to play well in Wimbledon.

            Q.  Maybe the next step would be to have a better relationship with the French Tennis Federation and maybe be able to play the Olympics next year?

            MARION BARTOLI:  We have excellent relationship.  There is no animosity or no open conflict or war.  Each understands the position of the other.  On my part, I was very consistent.  I always have the same attitude.

            I said I had nothing against the Fed Cup.  Jean was here today, Jean Gachassin, and he supported me from the first point to the last.  Unfortunately, in the French team there are some rules you have to comply with that are not good for me.

            For the time being I know I can't change.  No, I don't change my mind every second.

                  

Roland Garros May 31 2011 - Marion Bartoli

M. BARTOLI/S. Kuznetsova

6 7, 6 4


MARION BARTOLI


Q. You looked so excited. The point before you won, it seemed like you were going to have a heart attack. Can you just describe...
MARION BARTOLI: You know what? My heartbeat is extremely low, so for me to have a heart attack it really takes a lot.
But, you know, I think I was as I said after the match, even if I played the final of Wimbledon, I never felt that excited after a match, to be honest. It was just so many feelings the same time. The crowd. The wave. They were telling my name. They were supporting me.
And when she missed that forehand, then I was just like, My God, I'm in the semifinal of my home Grand Slam. Finally I can play well here. (Laughter.)
It was a big relief.

Q. It seems like just watching you over the years that at any tournament you've never been this happy, so excited, so involved in your tennis, so involved with the crowd. Yeah? Is that true?
MARION BARTOLI: Yeah, I think it was definitely the key. The past years I really felt the pressure here. I've been in a bad way. I was really going to the court without any confidence, to be honest.
I was feeling I was not feeling well on the court. I was not feeling well outside the court. I was scared about what the press would say when I'm gonna lose the match or whatever.
I really thought that this year I should try to take some pleasure, even though it's difficult, because, of course, we are French and we want to do well. I really tell myself, If you use that crowd, if you use that to put some pressure on the other one, maybe you can do well.
Even if the first three matches were extremely tough, I won them in three sets and some very tight contests. I really felt like I was growing in confidence. Really today it shows, because the match were extremely tight.
I don't know how many points we finished, but I think it was not a big difference.

Q. People have spoken a lot about the fact that it looked pretty open coming into this tournament in terms of possible champions and things. What effect did that have on your thinking? First of all, do you think it's true? Second of all, what effect did it have on your thinking and perhaps some of the women who were more highly ranked, like Wozniacki and Svetlana?
MARION BARTOLI: Well, Svetlana is lower ranked than me (laughing) for start. But yes, I think it's true. I think it's definitely wide open.
But every match is still extremely difficult to play. And it's not because you play someone who is 90 or 100 in the world is going to have an easy match.
I mean, I played my first round against someone ranked 90 or 95, and I lost the first set 6 1 in 30 minutes.
So you really of course when you play even against top players you know you're gonna have a chance; but, you know, as well even the first rounds you can lose them.
So to me, it's obviously the most difficult is to pass those first rounds, more than when you go deeper into the tournament.

Q. But now you have two former champions, recent champions, back to back.
MARION BARTOLI: Yeah, well, I beat a recent champion, as well: Svetlana won only two years ago. So I don't really honestly, when I go to the court I don't really think about, Oh, my God, she won this event two years or one year before. I go to the court with the mindset of a winner.
If you start to think about the resume of your opponent, I mean, doesn't change how she gonna hit a forehand, backhand, or serve even if she won the tournament before, two years ago, three years ago. It's just a matter of on this day who is gonna be the best.

Q. Over the years, there have been people who have said, Oh, Marion should not work with this person; Marion should not play this way; she will never make it if she does this, if she does that. What does it mean for you to have this achievement and to make it to the semis in your national tournament?
MARION BARTOLI: Do you mean before 2007 or after 2007? Because do you really think like I shouldn't practice with my dad when I made the final of Wimbledon or something?

Q. That's not what I'm saying.
MARION BARTOLI: Okay. What are you saying?

Q. I'm saying you have had people very critical of how you've approached playing tennis and who you've trained with and so forth. Does it give you...
MARION BARTOLI: Honestly, if you start to take your decisions based off what the other one think about yourself, that's not the way I'm thinking. I mean, if you listen to everyone, you never take a decision.
Because obviously you're gonna have hundred different opinions, and hundred people are going to say to you you should do this, should do this, this way, that way. They're not the one who are waking up every morning and walking out on the court.
So I'm just doing what I think is the best for me. So far you can't tell me that I haven't achieved anything.

Q. You have this strange routine between points, like swinging the racquet before returning, and also jumping around before serving. Can you explain to us this routine? What's the reason for it?
MARION BARTOLI: Well, the main reason for me, it's really to stay focused on what I have to do. It's really important for me to relieve the pressure of only the score or the scoreboard or my opponent and really focus on myself and what I need to do.
Obviously because clay, it's not my best surface, I really need to stay proactive between each point. Maybe not be the same on hard court or grass court, because obviously I'm feeling a lot better on these kind of surface.
But here, especially in the French Open, it's very important for me to stay focused on what I have to do and not thinking too much about the outside.

Q. You have to play Francesca Schiavone now. You played five times with her. You said before you don't care about who has won this tournament or the other. But do you care about what happened between you and another player in the past, or doesn't change anything?
MARION BARTOLI: Of course

Q. And also sorry also, you just said clay is not your favorite surface, while it is the favorite surface of Francesca. So what do you expect, and how difficult do you think it will be?
MARION BARTOLI: Well, I think it's very important to learn from the past contests you have with someone obviously from a defeat or from winning. So I think I really need to remember the past contests I had with Francesca and learn from those contests to see the way she was playing against me and what I can change to really try to win the match.
But, you know, she has I think she leads 4 1 against me. I'm not sure about it, but I think it's 4 1.
Obviously on clay it's gonna be different, but, you know, again, every day is different. It's been quite a while we didn't play against each other. I think it was two years ago, maybe one year ago. And I think I improved, as well.
But obviously she's in the semifinals, she won last year, so of course it's going to be extremely difficult. I'm not expecting myself to beat her easily. That's for sure.
But I really do believe if I have the same attitude and if I'm playing the same way, I will still have a chance. Doesn't mean I'm gonna win for sure, but I think I will have a chance to do something.

Q. You've been a very good player for a long time, and I know you have had a lot of self belief. But are you a little bit surprised now you're in the semifinals of Roland Garros given what you're talking about before, all the pressure and the clay and all of that?
MARION BARTOLI: Yes, well, I really think I'm in the semifinal because I improved. This is because I really since two months I'm on clay, I'm practicing a lot, and I really take some time to work on my game, to work on my fitness, to work on my footwork.
So it didn't come all in a second (snapping fingers), but I think the hard work I put in really helped me to go through those tough matches.
And, again, as I said to you, the first three ones were in three sets. So I could have lost those, but I'm still there and I'm in the semifinals. So all this work I put in since all those years and also those two months on clay court really helped me to go through those difficult moments.

Q. End of the second set, Svetlana started to win some games. Was it because she raised her level of play, or you were too nervous because you were close to winning?
MARION BARTOLI: You mean at 5 2 for me?

Q. Yes.
MARION BARTOLI: Yeah, I think a little bit of both, to be honest. I know Svetlana since a long, long time. We played the final US Open junior in 2001, I believe. So it's been 10 years. She always been able to raise her game when she's down and she's about to lose.
But as well, on my side I really start to back up as well. So I think it was a little bit of both, but the conditions were so extremely difficult. It was very windy and it was not easy to play some winners with this kind of wind.
THE MODERATOR: French questions, please.

Q. I don't know if you like statistics or the history of tennis, but you're only the fourth French female player to have reached the semifinals here at Roland Garros. Do you feel something special, an achievement?
MARION BARTOLI: Well, a lot of pride, of course. I'm proud because I'm one of the four best female players. But Mary reached the finals here and she won here. I would like to play the finals, too.
But, you know, I started at Retournec, at the tennis club with 300 tennis players, and now I'm reaching the highest level in France. So this is an achievement, yes.

Q. What can you say about the people who support you, your family, the people who are close to you? I have the impression that you really live you've talked about your dad on the court. What can you tell us about them, how you and they have lived through these two weeks?
MARION BARTOLI: Well, it's immense happiness and great satisfaction, too, because we have put in a lot of work with my father on the courts, because he practices me, and this is fruitful.
But this is something we do jointly. I'll share my feelings with him, what I feel on the court. We try and improve together.
It's not like he's going to give me orders, do this, that, and this, full stop. No, it's an exchange of ideas between him and me.
And then I have my family, as well: my brother, my uncle, my mother, my grandparents. We can share these moments of happiness. You know, when you win these matches, it's immense joy. It's incredible to be able to share this with your family, because they know how much it counts for me.

Q. Marion, what about betting on yourself before the tournament?
MARION BARTOLI: I'm not a gambler myself. But, you know, when I played the finals at Wimbledon, the odds were 1000 against me. So if someone had invested one pound, he would have won 1000. Not bad, I think.
I don't know about my rating at the beginning of the tournament this year, but it was probably the same: 1 to 1000. I don't know about my odds. I can't say anything about betting on myself.
Frankly, I think I would have hoped to do this, but this was pure hope, more than conviction.

Q. From the beginning to the end, I had the impression that mentally you had the upper hand, even though tactically it was different. Do you feel this in your matches, that is, this strong determination, and therefore you have the upper hand on girls that are more specialized on clay than you are?
MARION BARTOLI: I think that the determination on the court that I show is something very important to me, because when the moments are very important, I can play my best type of tennis, best of myself.
And also, for my opponents, you know, maybe they feel more my presence and my pressure when they know that the opponent is not going to give up on anything rather than having someone who would look at the clay and not look at the court.
But it helps me a lot to play my best tennis at the key moments.

Q. I don't know if you had time enough to watch Schiavone against Pavlyuchenkova before your match.
MARION BARTOLI: Well, actually...

Q. If you watched the match and it was 6 1, 4 1, what did you expect at that moment?
MARION BARTOLI: I left when it was 6 1, 4 1. Frankly, I thought I don't know. In 10 minutes it's the end of the match. There was no match. It was so quick. The games were flying by so quickly.
I left, and then it was 7 5 for Francesca. I had to warm up. It was 5 2, and then I saw that she won 7 5 in the third set.
But, you know, she's an incredible player. She's going to fight. She's a fighter. She fights till the end.

Q. Two days ago you said your dream is the finals here at Roland. The dream is closer and closer today. So what about playing the match point? Were you thinking about this or not?
MARION BARTOLI: During the match point, you know, first I wanted to have my first serve. I missed it; big disappointment.
And then I thought, Okay, it's windy. There's a lot of wind on the side. It's sideways. I have to hit really in the court, and then it's going to be in the limits, in the boundaries, within the court. But it was really sideways. The wind was sideways blowing on the court.
I played on her forehand, and she was bothered because it was a fast ball. I was thinking more in terms of tactics than my dream. More about changing ends at 5 2. I thought, Only four points to go.
And then when it was 5 you know, I thought, No, no, no. Let's not think about this. Let's think about playing each point as they come.

Q. Can you think about this?
MARION BARTOLI: Yes, now I'll be thinking about the big duel against Francesca on Thursday. But first I will try and unwind this evening. It's not going to be easy. There's a lot of tension in me.
Then tomorrow, one day off to unwind, and then I'll start thinking about this on Thursday.

Q. What about what you feel on the court? I have the impression you're more Zen. What do you feel about yourself and the crowd? What are the changes between 2011 and the years before?
MARION BARTOLI: The first thing that changed is my attitude, you know. I trust myself much more than before. In the past I would come here without much confidence. I had not won that many matches. The pressure was on me. I was thinking, It's going to be awful. I'm going to lose quickly, and people are going to say things about me.
Whereas this year, well, I reached the finals in Strasbourg before this tournament, and this really helped me in terms of my confidence. I had gotten to a really good start this year.
And then little by little, you know, I enjoyed it more and more. I showed more things on the courts. The crowd really supported me. They were incredible. This really helped me.

Q. We saw that your right hand has a bandage. What do you have?
MARION BARTOLI: It happened a long time ago. That was seven years ago. It was in the U.S., in Cincinnati, the summer tournament against Lindsay Davenport. I had a racquet at the time which was heavier, and on the grip it was a bit cutting.
Against Alize there was a big like bruise that started in my finger. I had to play the US Open with a glove, special big glove. I couldn't hold the racquet. I should not have too much pressure.
Now I have a special grip on the handle of my racquet so that I have no pressure on my finger. In fact, it's the tendon in the hand that reaches you know, this tendon that reaches this finger which is damaged or injured, which will never heal.
So I have to protect this tendon to avoid having too much pressure on this tendon. Since then, I have a special grip on the handle, and there's no pressure on this part of my hand.

Roland Garros May 27 2011 - Marion Bartoli

3 6, 6 2, 6 4

An interview with:

MARION BARTOLI

Q. You didn't really start well, and then you turned the match around. What was the key, according to you?
MARION BARTOLI: Well, the key to me was to move forward into the court and to play a game that would be much more aggressive.
It had been a long time. I had not played against her since last year. She's improved so much. On this surface I can tell you that she gives a lot of spin and I had to move backward to start with, and then I thought, I've got to change my strategy. I have to move forward.
It was a bit difficult to start with, to adjust my game, but then when my game was adjusted, I managed to play an excellent tennis sometimes.

Q. In the last set it seems that it was a never ending game, and then you managed to reach 5 4, and then...
MARION BARTOLI: Well, you know, it was like I was leading 0 15, and then she had a dropped ball. She was despaired, and then I had a counter drop ball shot. The ball was like stuck in the head of my racquet, and after this, it was 5 2, and the wind was against me. She had an advantage for her.
I knew that at 5 4, the wind for me, I had more opportunities of finishing the match, and then I played an excellent game and it was 5 4 and then 6 4. But the key was then, this 4 1 to 5 1 game, the wind was in my back and I had to stay in the game.

Q. How do you feel now that you've gone through nine sets?
MARION BARTOLI: Well, physically I feel really good. I feel fit. I'm ready. I'm fitter than ever. Longitudinally I practice. I don't do this in winter, so, physically speaking, I can improve during the year. Today this is really good for me, because in terms of recovery, I recover a lot faster than before, and my intensity on the court is a lot better, as well.
So all the work I put in during the year is good. Sometimes it's difficult. Some days it's difficult. But now I'm more steady, and I'm really ready.

Q. If you look at the draw, next time you're going to play against Dulko, and...
MARION BARTOLI: Well, that's enough, that's enough for the time being. Dulko, that's all. Don't want to look after this.
Gisela, you know, she's a girl who how can I say loves clay. She's a clay player. Today she defeated Sam Stosur who played semis here and the finals, as well, here.
So a big player on clay. Yet, if my game is aggressive enough, I think I can beat her.
So I'll try and recover well tomorrow. I have one day off to rest, and then it's going to be 100% on Sunday. But each match at a time.

Q. Without talking about the draw, what's your No. 1 objective? You wanted to reach the round of 16? You've made it. Just like in 2007. So the first objective is met.
MARION BARTOLI: Absolutely. This was my objective to start with. Julia Goerges, a seeded player, in the third round, this is a difficult round. She played so well on clay, and with what she won in Stuttgart and the semis in Madrid, so she was really fit on this type of surface.
But for me to reach this level is something good to start with. Of course I don't want to stop here. I'll continue. I'll try and practice the same type of tennis and have the same attitude on the court.

Q. What were you thinking about when the match point was played and then the crowd was there supporting you 100%? What were you thinking?
MARION BARTOLI: Well, a lot of joy, extreme and intense happiness. A lot of adrenaline. And when we shake hands and then it's finished two minutes after, you think about the next match. So it's a moment of pure bliss.
But it doesn't last. It's a special moment, because my family is here, all of them, to support me. Plus the crowd with me, as well. So it's an extreme happiness. It's really intense.
But it's so short. Then you have to think about the future and the next match, and that has to be prepared when you're off the courts, when you've won. Immediately, right now you have to start thinking about the next round, which is what I'm doing.

Q. What about the second set that you won at 6 2 and 0 winning strokes?
MARION BARTOLI: 0 winning strokes?

Q. Yes. Does that mean that it was tactical?
MARION BARTOLI: Well, when I serve at 170 on the line and she makes a mistake, it's not a winning stroke?
I don't agree with this stance.

Q. It's a compliment, because it means that strategically and tactically you were stronger during the second set.
MARION BARTOLI: Yes, absolutely. You know, when I was down 4 0, I had to adjust my tactics, because, as I said before, and I had not played against her for a year, so sometimes if you play against her on some parts of the court, I couldn't return the ball. So I had to avoid these zones, these areas on the court.
On the contrary, I had to focus on other parts, on a restricted area on the court where I could play either to have unforced errors or perhaps to provoke errors from her.
But the key was to take more time and to play in very specific zones on the court.

Q. You were talking about bliss and being in tune with the crowd. Have you ever felt this at Roland Garros?
MARION BARTOLI: Well, last time it was that intense it's when I defeated Dementieva on the Lenglen in 2007. It was once on a match. Whereas now it's been three matches. I have been totally in tune with the crowd. The crowd supports me. I have difficulties to start with. There are moments when I feel there are difficulties, and then I can turn the match around and I can have the upper hand.
And I think that people love that. When they see that I am the winner, I think, when I show this attitude of a winner on the court, I'll never give up.
Today to start with it was difficult. I got off to a very bad start, and then little by little I changed the trend, and I won the match.
So this is going to help me, that's sure. It's going to help me in terms of this relationship with the crowd here. But also it's going to help me with the rest of the season because I can turn around this type of match and then afterwards I can win in front of my crowd here at Roland Garros. And this is going to give me a lot of confidence for the end of the tournament here and the rest of the season.

Q. What about your injury in Strasbourg? Is it totally finished, or is it hurting, or when you warm up, as you say, you can't feel it any longer?
MARION BARTOLI: Well, it's still a bit painful when I wake up in the morning, when I'm cold. And then when I've started practicing on the court or when I started playing on the court, I can't feel anything any longer. Or due to adrenaline during the match I can't feel anything any longer. I don't know. But, anyway, I feel better and better with time.
And also, in the morning when I'm cold it hurts a little, but then during the day that's okay when I've started.

Q. There is a detail. What are the zones in the court that you wanted to avoid?
MARION BARTOLI: Well, you've seen her forehand. When I was playing mainly in the direction of the court, her forehand was so powerful. It was really hurting me.
But then if I could hit a strong forehand so that she would almost leave the court, it would be okay.
Otherwise, no, it was difficult for me when I crossed the balls or along the lines, it was so powerful I couldn't do anything. So it was her backhand and also the right hand.
So during the third set the external ace was really good for me, because I had been serving on her backhand for several times in a row so she expected this. But she's improved so much on her forehand, she can do so many variations on her forehand, so it's very difficult to win a point on her forehand.

Roland Garros. May 25 2011 - Marion Bartoli

M. BARTOLI/O. Govortsova

6 4, 6 7, 6 2

MARION BARTOLI



THE MODERATOR: Questions in French, please.

Q. This was a big fight again today after the first round. At the beginning of the first set you had three break points, and then you had to go to the third set. So what happened?
MARION BARTOLI: Exactly. At 3 2, 15 40, I had one opportunity because she serves really well on the left and along the line, but when it was 15 to 40, I had an opportunity to seize, but I missed it.
I think that then she felt a bit more aggressive. She really played well during the tiebreak, but the match is not over when two sets have gone by. There was a third one to go. The rally at the beginning of the third set was so tough, but she suffered physically, and then I was in control, which is quite normal. So I had double break at 5 to 2.
So this was good for me. Yet I did a few things in her feet and she was really far away from her lines, so tactically was not bad for me. And the key was physically. She couldn't stand three sets.

Q. Before next round, do you think that physically after three setters, it's going to be okay against Goerges?
MARION BARTOLI: Yes, I'm prepared physically. No problem. I could do this. I can play finals like this. You know, you have to be ready, because the tournament is not going to end after two matches.
So I was prepared. Tomorrow I can take a day off to rest, no problem. I could have played tomorrow. It would have been different, but then with a day to rest it's going to be okay physically for me.

Q. Do you have the feeling that your match is better than the first round match?
MARION BARTOLI: Well, yes. Mainly this was really intense fighting, and here again, the crowd was supporting me a lot. This helped a lot. People enjoyed watching this match, I think.
It was tough till the very end, but I served really well during the third set. At the very important moments I really enjoyed playing these moments.
Even though it lasted three hours, I think the intensity of the mental and physical comeback was such that this was very interesting. I think that's why people stayed, because there was intensity.

Q. You were still wearing the black ribbon. Is it for Virginie's friend?
MARION BARTOLI: Absolutely. On day one, you know, I was looking for it, but I played really late at night, and there was nobody to sew it on me. So unfortunately I was so disappointed not to wear it this time I did that in advance and there's no problem. I'll have it next time I play.

Q. You played only once in Wimbledon against Goerges, a victory. Since then she's improved a lot.
MARION BARTOLI: Yes, yes.

Q. She's not easy to beat during the third round.
MARION BARTOLI: Well, of course not. But I think that at Wimbledon I had drawn tactical lessons against her that are very important to me.
I think that, here again, if it can be a physical fight that's tough, it's my best thing. It shouldn't be a quick, short match. This is what she wants. She is someone who hits the balls. She doesn't like long rallies.
This is going to be the key to the match, but I have one day off. First I'll focus on this, and then I will focus on the match when it comes in due time.

Q. Well, to come back to this, you know, this injury that you mentioned, and you had to withdraw in Strasbourg during the finals, now that you've played two matches, don't you feel the pain any longer? How do you feel?
MARION BARTOLI: Well, what happened in Strasbourg is that I had the impression it was in the muscle, you know. My muscles in the upper part of my thigh, the psoas, or the inner muscle, were really like rigidified. They had shrunk a little. So slightly a torn muscle, almost a torn muscle.
So when I was off the courts, I thought it's going to take a miracle, because if it's these muscles, it takes a long time.
But, again, it's a tendinitis. This is what I have, tendinitis in one of the tendons in the hip. Caring for this, it's better. It's easier. With a bit of massage and ice and anti inflammatory drugs, that's okay.
When I'm warm on the court, I don't feel it any longer, so that's easy. It's better day in and day out. It was really difficult on Monday when I started at the beginning. Even though I was warm, I still had a little pain.
But now that days go by, it's going to be better and better.

Q. What about your goals here at Roland Garros?
MARION BARTOLI: My objective before it started was to go through to week No. 2, just only a match away from that, one match away from this.
And then a second week in the Grand Slam, it's like a new tournament altogether. Maybe I'll reappraise my goals if I go to the second week.
But next match is going to be very difficult. Let's not dream or have illusions about it. It's going to be a tough fight, but I'll be ready for it.
I take this Roland Garros, you see, as if I had to give 100% of who I am on each match. I don't want to have illusions about anything. I know that clay is the most complicated surface for me, the most difficult one.
But I'll use all of my weapons on the court. This is what counts. It's attitude, you know, not to give up on anything.