Bartoli takes lonely road to top

Marion Bartoli completes her journey from rock bottom to the most prestigious match in women’s tennis today when she steps out on Centre Court to contest the Wimbledon final against Sabine Lisicki.

The French woman’s flawless progression through the championships, where she has yet to lose a set, is remarkable for a number of reasons.

Before Wimbledon Bartoli had not made it past the third round of any tournament this year, and her long partnership with father Walter as her coach had come to an end.

The professional relationship between Bartoli and her father, who gave up his career as a doctor to become her coach, has sometimes proved to be a difficult one.

Two years ago famously at Wimbledon, Bartoli ordered him to leave the Court 12 stands after becoming annoyed by his presence.

Shortly after their split in February, Bartoli admitted she found it hard coping on tour without her father’s presence.

“There are tough days when I feel very lonely... I get back to my hotel room and I turn around and say, ‘dad’ and there is no one there anymore,” Bartoli said.

Yesterday, without explaining the precise cause of her recent unhappiness, Bartoli admitted she had gone through a particularly rough patch.

“There is something off the court, it’s private, but it kind of affected me in my mood and my results because it was a tough thing to deal with,” Bartoli said.

“I had some very low moments when I pretty much hit rock bottom. But what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.”

The sad times seem to be well and truly consigned to the past now.

Bartoli’s extrovert character — she regularly shuffles, jumps, shrieks and skips between points — has made her a popular figure on the tour, but today she will not be the fans’ favourite.

Today’s opponent Lisicki wowed the crowd on her way to beating Serena Williams and Agnieszka Radwanska, while she also collected the scalps of Samantha Stosur and Francesca Schiavone.

The German collapsed to the floor in glee at making her dream of reaching the final come true on Thursday, but there was a cold response from Radwanska, who offered her the weakest of handshakes at the net.

That will not stop Lisicki from enjoying an emotional celebration if she wins today, though.

She said: “Well, that’s just me. I enjoy myself out there. Why shouldn’t I show it? I’m an emotional person.

“It helps me to stay relaxed, enjoy the game, and play my best tennis. I won’t change anything.”

While Bartoli has experience of a Wimbledon final, losing to Venus Williams in 2007, Lisicki is entering new territory.

“It’s been a great journey. It hasn’t finished yet,” she said. “I think I’m really ready.”