At the start of the first set, Bartoli went up 2-0. However, within moments, she showed clear signs of distress. Clutching her abdomen between every point, she appeared winded and sluggish as she traversed the court.
Her opponent, Bammer, remained steady, fighting for every point that she could. Up 4-3, Bartoli called for a trainer, who took her blood pressure at courtside. The players then returned to the court where Bartoli’s pace became more and more listless. She managed to stay in the match and the women played to a tiebreak, which Bammer squeaked out to take the set.
Immediately upon conclusion of the first set, Bartoli took a bathroom break. Returning several minutes later, the color had come back into her face and her energy level seemed renewed. The Frenchwoman steamrolled through the second set committing just two unforced errors and not dropping a game as Bammer seemed to lose her way.
As the third set got underway the tension, which filled the court, was broken briefly when a cloud obscured the sun providing momentary relief from the blazing heat. The crowd let out a sigh in unison and then broke into spontaneous applause as smiles flitted across the faces of both players.
At 3-2 in the third, Bartoli took another medical timeout, this time with a cramp in her left thigh, which the trainer iced for several minutes. Before returning to the court, she stretched repeatedly, appearing to once again be in discomfort. Down 3-4, at the next changeover she requested the trainer who returned and iced the thigh again. On court, Bartoli’s energy appeared to wane again and she was limping noticeably. Holding serve to go even at four all, Bartoli clenched her fist in victory.
But, it was Bammer who ultimately fought her way back, serving out the match.
Bammer now moves on to the quarterfinal round for the first time, where she will face No. 2 seed Jelena Jankovic who, earlier in the day, defeated No. 21 Caroline Wozniacki.
