The Final: Bartoli vs Rezai (game by game report)

Most of the spectators in Bali International Convention Centre seems to support Rezai as she's the underdog. People around me even talked about her relation to the Middle East. I feel like the only Bartoli fan on the row behind the photographers and the D Stand.

Rezai serves the opening quite big, but a deep forehand return from Bartoli wins her the first point. Some unbelievable reaches by Rezai helped her won the game.

0-1

Bartoli open and close her service game with unreturned big serves. The game point came after a long rally ended by Rezai hit the net.

1-1

Rezai keeps her pace and powerful strokes to win the third game regardless Bartoli's determining play.

2-1

Bartoli cruised for love game with great angles and close it perfectly with a big unreturned serve.
2-2

Bartoli stayed strong and lead 30-0 on Rezai serve. Rezai managed to get a point as Bartoli hit a long forehand, but that's it, Bartoli has the break.

3-2

A great return from Rezai on Bartoli's second serve. 0-15
15-30 forehand winner from Rezai.

Rezai get the break points by hitting hard to the left corner, and the backhand defense from Bartoli went over the base line.

Bartoli forced a deuce and aced for advantage.
A long forehand down the line by Rezai went wide.

4-2

Rezai hit an ace and unreturned big serve to lead 30-0. Bartoli took the next points with winners. Deuce cannot be avoided as Rezai sent the ball long. Unreturned serve gives Rezai the advantage. Bartoli hit winner to equalize, but her forehand at the next point went wide.

4-3

Big return on 2nd serve gave Rezai first point. Her long forehand and net backhand gives Bartoli the lead. Bartoli moved her from corner to corner for the game point. Rezai sailed a long forehand to lose the game.

5-3


A return deep on the corner gives Bartoli the first point. Rezai double faulted the next. Rezai got a point after exchanging groundstrokes. Equalizer came with a blistering forehand by Rezai.
Another double fault gave Bartoli set point. Bartoli missread the 2nd serve and the return went long. Deuce. An ace by Rezai was determined by hawkeye. Bartoli overcooked a backhand and gave Rezai the game. That's is the biggest mistake of the match.


5-4

Failed to close the set, Bartoli is left 0-30.
An ace from Bartoli is paid with a winner return by Rezai. Rezai won a great point to equalize the set. Spectators in the centre court went crazy. Those who supported Bartoli when they first came in, changed their mind in order to not look different. They are the ones who have been defeated by the situation.

5-5

Bartoli had a break point for 6-5 lead, but Rezai saved the point and held serve after a long forehand from Bartoli. Her racket string was the cause of that unforced error. Bartoli changed racket, but could not help winning the game. Rezai held serve.

5-6


Walter came in and gave advice to Marion.


I still believed that Bartoli could win the set, even when she was down 15-40.
They played the same game, they hit the ball hard, and moved well on the court. Bartoli has better pace on her shots and her groundtrokes are flat and deep. Rezai hits a little spin that make he balls a bit shorter. The problem is that Bartoli is not fit enough for the match. She surrendered after being treated. Even though she tried to finish the set, it was obvious that she is limped and could not move well.

Marion went on tears as she shook Rezai's hand and forced to give up the championship.

Rezai will go home with USD 200,000 pay check (twice the prize money for Bartoli), but she keeps on smiling not because of the biggest check she got from a tournament. It is the title that matter.