Marion Bartoli: A forgotten player who came from practically nowhere to stun Sabine Lisicki and the whole tennis world at the 2013 Wimbledon Championship, but only to quietly walk into the sunset six weeks later. No one expected her to lift the women's Wimbledon title in July this year but when she did, to use that eternal adage, a veil seemed to be lifted.
Wimbledon Champion Marion Bartoli decides to call it a day
Her style of play was more likely to inspire scorn and not confidence. But what escaped the layman was the efficacy of her methods. To the run-of-the-mill tennis viewer, one who watches no other tournament than the four Majors, Bartoli hardly appeared like a Championship material.
Superficially, she appeared slow, and of course, with her double handed forehand cobbled with her unorthodox serve, she was far from being the apple of the eye of the purists. But all that matters in the end is whom history remembers and whom it conveniently chooses to forget. Bartoli, thanks to her unexpected victory at South West 19, London, will surely not be forgotten in a hurry.
Her effervescence on the court was infectious and her intensity palpable. Such was her lively spirit that she managed to endear herself even to the crowd at Wimbledon who had been vociferously supporting her final opponent Lisicki.
Bartoli certainly blossomed late in her career and by the time she bloomed completely, it was already too late. Like her French compatriot and close friend, Amelie Mauresmo, injuries have managed to bring her down from the pedestal. The statisticians will now be left wondering what Bartoli would have achieved had it not been for the bane of so many other players: Injuries.
Coached by a devoted father, who gave his medical practice to train his dear daughter, Bartoli hogged eyeballs for the first time when she advanced to the final of the 2007 Wimbledon. En route to the final, she beat top-seed Justine Henin of Belgium in three sets. In a match that stretched to three sets, Bartoli displayed a great deal of determination and tenacity, two virtues that were to be her hallmarks for the entirety of her career.
In what was an upset of gargantuan proportions, Henin, after coasting to an easy first set win looked all set to wrap the match up in straight sets. But some invisible force caught hold of Bartoli and the Frenchwoman managed to came out on top in a close contest in the second set. And before Henin could realise what hit her, Bartoli strolled to an easy victory in the third set to book a berth in the final.
In the final, Venus Williams gave her little chance and Bartoli had to contend herself with the runner-up trophy. But, her impressive performance in Wimbledon 2007 saw her rankings soar to a career high of 11.
But, her failure to maintain good form post 2007 Wimbledon saw her lose her ranking and no sooner was she forgotten by the spectators. The time that she spent in relative anonymity helped her a great deal for it gave her ample time to asses her failings and shortcomings.
In 2013, scant attention was paid to Bartoli. Given the marauding form that Serena was in coming into Wimbledon 2013, it was almost a foregone conclusion that the American would triumph at Wimbledon yet again. The battle, it was being said, was being fought for the second place. But then, Wimbledon 2013's script itself was such that fans had begun to take the unexpected in their stride and brace themselves for upsets.
After Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer and Maria Sharapova were shown the door in the first week, it was Serena's turn in the second week. The vivacious and exuberant Lisicki of Germany played what was clearly the greatest match of her life and took Serena out of the equation.
As far as the crowd was concerned, there was little doubt as to whom they favoured: Lisicki. Given the expansive range of strokes in her repertoire and her formidable serve, Lisicki ought not to have had much trouble against Bartoli, who was a defensive player.
But Bartoli decided to bring out her best when it mattered and showed everyone that there was more to her game than just slicing and chopping. Against a errant Lisicki, Bartoli played a controlled game and by setting the pace of the rally, took Lisicki's powerful strokes out of the picture.
Injuries have been the undoing of many legends of the game such as Mark Phillipoussis, Richard Krajicek, Martina Hingis to name a few, and Bartoli is the latest addition to the list. What she would have done had it not been for her physical ailments would be to indulge in the futile exercise of speculation.