France's Marion Bartoli Serves up Tennis Winner
Venus Williams Upset in Three Sets at the Bank of the West Classic
Aug 2, 2009
Bartoli became the toast of her country after beating American Venus Williams, 6-2, 5-7, 6-4, in the finals of the 2009 WTA Premier $700,000 Bank of the West Classic at Stanford University.
"Venus is one of the greatest champions ever and I've been practicing all these years to play her," Bartoli said. "To beat her is even better. This is the best effort I've ever given on the court. I really gave it everything I had."
After beating Jelena Jankovic in the semifinals, Bartoli, who earned a $107,000 paycheck, said no matter what the outcome, her stay in the San Francisco Bay Area would have been a success. She turned the trip into a special occasion.
She spoke eloquently of how her father (and coach) Dr. Walter Bartoli worked 18-hour days to support her and an older brother, and how her family was never respected in the village in which they lived.
"You have to face a difficult situation to develop mental toughness," Bartoli said. "I didn't want to stay in that village because I had too many bad memories. I wanted to see the bigger cities, travel to world and do something different."
Bartoli has been working hard to develop a more dynamic serve and it was on display against the world's No. 3 female tennis player. She was able to set up her service game and ground strokes against Williams.
Bartoli won her second tournament of the year, and the fifth of her career. She also won on American soil for the first time. Her previous titles were in Monterrey, Mexico, Auckland, Toyko and Quebec City.
"She gets a lot of balls back," Williams said. "She can also stroke the ball from the ground. That's one of her best games since I've seen her play."
Bartoli gains a lot of momentum on the U.S. Open Series race as she heads to Los Angeles for a tournament next week.
Notes on the WTA Tour
Venus Williams was asked who were the three best players she's competed against in a career that begin in 1994.
"Well I have to put Serena first because she's one of the few who can actually beat me," Venus said. "Any one else and I usually beat myself. There were a lot of good players who beat me when I first broke in but that's a hard question.; I have to think about that."
While she was thinking, there were several suggestions . . . "Steffi," ... "Martina" ...
"I get to make the list," Venus said, breaking into laughter.
Mixed Doubles for Serena
Serena Williams, before her loss to Samantha Stosur in the quarterfinals, was asked if she was interested in playing mixed doubles again.
"Oh yeah, I'd like to win all the Grad Slam there too," she said. "I need Australia and the French Open."
Would she have a preference for a partner?
"Mardy (Fish), James (Blake) or Andy (Roddick), on of those Americans," she said. "I don't think Andy plays doubles though."
What about Bob Bryan?
"Of course, that would be the ultimate," Serena said.
Williams said the men don't take it easy in her either. Just the way she likes it.
"They come at me tough and I come back at them tough," she laughed.
Oudin's Tennis Lesson
American Melanie Oudin, a 17-year-old high school senior, lost to Bartoli in the second round, answering questions in the rapid fire delivery associated with youthful exuberance, felt it was a successful week for an odd reason.
"At least Venus said hi to me, so that was cool," she said.
Oudin, who came out of the qualifying tournament at Stanford, reached the round of 16 at Wimbledon, beating Jankovic along the way for her first Top 10 win.
"I learn more from losing," Oudin said. "When I lose I tend to think more about the match and what I could have done better."
Oudin wasn't the only player in awe of the regulars of the WTA Tour. College freshman Stacey Tan, who lost during the qualifying tournament, brought her autograph book just in case. She meet Maria Sharapova through a mutual coaching acquaintance a few years ago and planned to approach some of the other stars.
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