Player Quotes August 2nd
Marion Bartoli After Winning the 2009 Bank of the West Classic
General thoughts on the match...
“I couldn’t believe I was leading against Venus, so it was really hard mentally to come up with a win in the second set because I was just getting so tight. I got really tight at 5-4 when I was serving for the match and I think Venus felt it right away and came up with some great winners. Then I regrouped and reminded myself that I was in a position to win the match. We had some great rallies in the third set but I was able to win some big points and that was the difference.”
Thoughts at the start of the third set...
“I wasn’t really down because I had given absolutely everything up to that point. She just came up with some better shots in that second set. I know the crowd was pushing me because I was the underdog and playing with nothing to lose. But to come up with the win against a player like that after three hours of play is just the best thing that can happen to me.”
On her aggressive play late in the third set...
“I thought the only chance to win at that point was to take charge and be aggressive. Venus is not going to give it to you, so you have to come up with some winners. I was able to play those winners, which was really difficult. However, even if I had lost this match, I believe this was the best effort I ever gave on the tennis court. So I couldn’t be that disappointed with myself because I gave everything I had today.”
On why she considers this one of her best wins...
On how she has learned to close out matches...
“Since that Wimbledon final, I think my experience has been growing. I know what to do at the big points and I know what my strengths are. I have improved my weaknesses as well, such as my movement. I think that’s part of the reason I had such a great match today because I was able to move, move, move. Heading into the US Open, it’s great to win these types of tournaments.”
