France's Bartoli finally breaks through to semis
Marion Bartoli, who is the oldest player left in the draw, defeated former world number one Ana Ivanovic to become the first woman to reach the Indian Wells semifinals.
Marion Bartoli, who is the oldest player left in the draw, defeated former world number one Ana Ivanovic to become the first woman to reach the Indian Wells semifinals.
The 26-year-old Frenchwoman Bartoli broke through to the semis for the first time in nine appearances as she beat Ivanovic 6-4, 7-6 (7/4) Wednesday on centre court.
"The tiebreak we played was very good, especially on my side," Bartoli said. "You know, I think I'm very pleased with the performance, considering the way I was feeling on court."
Bartoli finished off the 2008 Indian Wells champion Ivanovic with a overhead forehand winner, ending the two-hour, seven minute marathon match.
The 26-year-old Bartoli celebrated the winning point by dropping to her knees and then placing both arms across her chest. She then jogged over to the player's box where she kissed her coach and father, Walter Bartoli.
"I am super excited and so happy to be in the semi-finals for the first time," she said. "Being in the semi-final was really huge, so I didn't even think about the celebration. It comes out naturally because I was really happy."
Bartoli said she felt sick going into the match and her health didn't improve much as temperatures in the California desert reached 32 Celsius (90 Fahrenheit).
"I felt a bit sick and it got very hot," Bartoli said. "I felt something in my stomach and then the physio came out and gave me a magic tablet."
Bartoli is looking forward to a day of rest Thursday. She doesn't have to go far to get health advice as her father is a doctor and her mother is a nurse.
"You know, I'm quite tough. Tomorrow I have a day off," she said.
Ivanovic's exit leaves Russia's Maria Sharapova as the lone former women's champion remaining in the field.
Bartoli won despite making four double faults and winning just 50 percent of her first service points.
Bartoli plays next on Friday when she faces the winner of the second quarter-final match of the day between Israel's Shahar Peer and Yanina Wickmayer of Belgium.