7 Jul 2013

Bartoli wins first grand slam title at Wimbledon

7:57 am on 7 July 2013

Marion Bartoli of France has won her first grand slam victory with a 6-1 6-4 victory over Sabine Lisicki in the Wimbledon final.

The 28-year-old became the fifth oldest woman to become a first-time grand slam winner in the Open tennis era and the first player from outside the top 10 to win a major since Venus Williams in 2007.

Bartoli needed only 81 minutes to rout the the 23rd-seeded German player who broke down in tears as the match slipped away in the second set.

Lisicki, who had upset top seed Serena Williams en route to the final, threatened to stage a late comeback to ultimately took too long to overcome her nerves, AAP reports.

Six years after losing to Williams in the final at the All England Club, Bartoli returned to Centre Court to end her long wait for a major crown.

"As a little girl I dreamed about this moment for so long and I was there in 2007 and I missed it, so I know how it feels," said Bartoli.

By finally winning her maiden major title in the 47th grand slam appearance of her career, Bartoli surpassed the previous record set by Jana Novotna, who won Wimbledon in 1998 after 45 appearances at the majors.

Bartoli, who will climb to seventh when the latest world rankings are released on Monday, didn't drop a set in her seven matches and is the first Frenchwoman to win a grand slam singles title since Amelie Mauresmo at Wimbledon in 2006.

Mauresmo has played a key role in Bartoli's remarkable renaissance over the past two weeks.

Bartoli's career had been on a downward spiral in recent years and she hit rock bottom in February when she struggled with the emotional decision to move on from her dad Walter, who had coached her since childhood.

She eventually turned to Mauresmo after failing to achieve rapport with a series of coaches.

Bartoli's father was in her support box for the final and the pair embraced after the victory.