[sharapovarulz1]

Hmmm thats an iffy draw! But I have full faith in Marion

[bruce goose]

Originally Posted by Super_Marion

That is a possibility. But i'm sure Marion will be aiming to qualify off her own back, not through withdrawals.

She shouldnt be intimidated by the FORTIS field. In a way i'm glad she is playing top 20 players. I know she can beat them. At least with FORTIS she know's the calibre, the players, she knows where the ground lies. Unlike banana skins such as Vania King and Sunfeast!

WOW!!So I EXIST again? Yes,one of my earlier posts echoes this same thought about Marion earning her way directly.However,since this WOULD be her first time at YEC,I'm hoping she makes it via any available route.Perhaps being surrounded by nothing but top-tier players would be a sort of epiphany for Marion,like:"So THIS is the level I need to maintain to be a champion..."

You probably know better than I how Marion typically fares versus first-time opponents(currently Allie Bondarenko).With the PREVIOUS first-time foe,Vania King,the results weren't good so...AUX ARMAS,MARION!!

[Zombielicious]

Good luck Mari!

[Iceland]

Marion won 63 62 ! Fantastic performance against the defending champion, it's part of the very convincing victories of the year!
Great stats on serve with 3 aces and 75% of the points won after a first serve! She only got broken once .

Nice way to rebounce after a very disappointing Kolkata! Sybille comes next, after the way Marion handled Alona, I am confident. She will have to be very consistent & accurate though. Good test before Chak.

Allez !

[Zombielicious]

Great win for Marion! Good luck in the next round, Mari!

[UDACHi]

what a terrible draw. two players ranked right around 20.
i do think these type of fields suit marion better than weak little tier 3 and tier 4 tournaments.
good luck vs. sybille.

[Iceland]

Marion after her win over Bondarenko:

September 25, 2007

Bartoli Ousts Bondarenko, Bammer Up Next


LUXEMBOURG, Luxembourg - In a clash between one of this year's breakout stars and the FORTIS Championships Luxembourg winner a year ago, it was the more recent form player that prevailed. No.5 seed Marion Bartoli overpowered an unseeded Alona Bondarenko on Tuesday as the first round continued at the Tier II indoor stop.


"It was a good match," Bartoli said. "I'm very happy with my performance and satisfied with winning in two sets. It was a good level of tennis. I knew coming in that every match would be tough, so I didn't set any goals for this week. But, my main objective for this season is to qualify for the Sony Ericsson Championships."

Awaiting Bartoli in the second round will be Sybille Bammer, who bounced Tamira Paszek earlier in the day, 60 62. They two women are 1-1 head to head, with the Frenchwoman winning in Sarasota qualifying four seasons ago and the Austrian winning last summer in Stanford. Both of those matches went to three sets.

"She is a very dangerous player," Bartoli said. "I'll have to be very focused and stay that way. I think I'll have my chances if I play like I did today."

[Super_Marion]

great to hear Marion's own thoughts.

Nice work iceland

[BartoliBabes]

wel done mar, fantastic result! keep it up!

[Zombielicious]

Mari plays tommarow

COURT N°1
1:30 pm
Sybille BAMMER (AUT) vs Marion BARTOLI (FRA)
followed by
Klara ZAKOPALOVA (CZE) vs PATTY SCHNYDER (SUI)
followed by
Sorana CIRSTEA (ROU) / Yanina WYCKMAYER (BEL) vs Victoria AZARENKA (BLR) / Shahar PEER (ISR)
followed by
Yung-Yan CHAN (TPE) / Meghann SHAUGHNESSY (USA)vs Vera DUSHEVINA (RUS) / Tatiana PEREBIYNIS (UKR)

Good luck honey! Show her what your made of!

[Bartoli's Boy]

Good win over Bondarenko, go Marion! Good luck tomorrow.

[Alizé Molik]

come on Marion!! Bammer is surely beatable if she's back on a court that she's comfortable on.

[sharapovarulz1]

Good luck against Bammer she shouldn't be to hard to overcome

[Bartoli's Boy]

Why must they show Chakvetadze on Eurosport Anyway, good start, Marion leads 6-2, 4-4 in the second. Come on Mar!

[Iceland]

Marion wasted a MP and now has to hold for a 6/5 lead in the second set... Very tight match now!