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By Erik Gudris
Photo Credit: Tony Chang / Chang Photography


Marion Bartoli
(March 29, 2012) Despite a dismal head to head record versus World No. 1 Victoria Azarenka, France's Marion Bartoli didn't focus on the past and instead believed in herself as she defeated the unbeaten top seed to reach the semifinals of the Sony Ericsson Open.

In a match filled with crackling winners and controversy, Bartoli came out firing as her deep, flat groundstrokes kept Azarenka in a defensive mode for most of the first set. Bartoli broke twice to open up a 4-0 lead and though Azarenka got one of the breaks back, errors from the Belarusian's forehand allowed Bartoli to claim the set 6-3.

Coaching became an issue for both women in the second set as Sam Sumyk, Azarenka's coach, was warned by WTA officials about not having his microphone turned on during his exchange with Azarenka during the changeover. Bartoli herself was given a soft warning from the chair umpire about receiving signals from her father in the stands and that seemed to disrupt the Frenchwoman as she dropped her opening service game to love and then again to give Azarenka a 3-1 lead.

But Azarenka's momentum was short-lived as a lucky net cord for Bartoli set up a break point opportunity for her that she converted with a crosscourt backhand. Bartoli resumed her quick pace and though she appeared to struggle with an arm issue, Azarenka herself began to feel the apparent effects of leg cramps.

Despite fighting on, Azarenka lacked energy late in the set allowing Bartoli to move ahead to 5-3. A final forehand error from Azarenka was all it took for Bartoli to claim a 6-3, 6-3 victory and snap Azarenka's 26-0 unbeaten win streak for the year. Bartoli has now beaten three No.1's in her career, including Justine Henin in 2007 and Jelena Jankovic in 2009.

"The key for me tonight was belief, to really step on the court trying to win the match, having a game plan and going for my shots," Bartoli said later. "I had to work very hard in the points and stay tough physically and mentally, but at the end I was so happy I was able to do that and win tonight."

Afterwards, Azarenka talked about the match saying, "For sure I could have played better today, but I gave it all I had. Physically I just wasn't able to do anything today. It was just not possible. I'm human, not a superwoman I wish I could be, but I'm not. And Marion played really well today, she deserves the win. What else can I say?"

Bartoli will now face in the semifinals No. 5 seed
Agnieszka Radwanska who ended the run of unseeded Venus Williams in their match earlier in the day. Williams, appearing lethargic throughout the opening set, was able to break Radwanska several times but found herself dropping serve right back.

Radwanksa surprised Williams by hitting two back-to-back aces to close out the first set and was never troubled in the second set as she claimed a 6-4, 6-1 victory. Afterwards, Radwanska summed up her thoughts on the match.

"I think I was playing really good today, since the beginning to the end, and pretty consistent. I think everything was working. I was also focused on my serve just, you know, also to break her. If I needed break points just to take the chance. So, um, I cannot, you know, really complain about anything."

 

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