Wimbledon 2013: Marion Bartoli Crushes Favorite Sabine Lisicki
The women’s winner for Wimbledon 2013, Marion Bartoli, is truly on the rise with her first Grand Slam title. Her victory may be the crowning touch on a Wimbledon capped with wild accidents and crazy upsets.
Bartoli, who is French, easily crushed her German opponent Sabine Lisicki in a 6-1, 6-4 win that finished the tournament almost before it started.
As I reported yesterday, many observers picked Lisicki — who had eliminated world No. 1 Serena Williams from the tournament — as the favorite in the Wimbledon finals.
However, there were a couple of hints that the match could go the other way. Lisicki’s performances were somewhat erratic. In her matches against Williams and again against her semi-final opponent Agnieszka Radwanska, she was forced to make some amazing rallies to get to the finals.
By contrast, Marion Bartoli completely dominated Kirsten Flipkens in the semi-finals, crushing her 6-1, 6-2 in 62 minutes.
It was Lisicki’s first finals at Wimbledon and Bartoli’s second. And Lisicki appeared to suffer from a sudden loss of nerve.
A disgusted commentator from The Guardian said:
“This could have been a fantastic final but Lisicki is so hesitant and so tight. It’s hard to remember a worse performance in a final, especially as she was the hot favorite.”
Sports Illustrated wasn’t much happier. They called Lisicki “anemic” and said that she wept afterward.
“I think I was just overwhelmed by this whole situation,” Lisicki said.
And some fans were a little bitter about their favorite’s poor showing against rising powerhouse Marion Bartoli:
My love for #Wimbledon2013 died the moment Bartoli beat Sabine Lisicki…screw the men’s final tomorrow and Andy Murray #WeAllLoveSabine
— Geoff Dragon (@TheDragon_1991) July 6, 2013
But Bartoli’s fans were jubilant.
Ace for #Bartoli. She is the 2013 #Wimbledon Champion 6-1 6-4 v #Lisicki. She climbs into the stands to her family. pic.twitter.com/XiPkIROFDj
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 6, 2013
Congratulations to Marion Bartoli, the 2013 Wimbledon’s women champion.
