Zheng Jie upsets Bartoli at Melbourne

No. 38 Zheng Jie of China pulled a major upset over No. 9 seed Marion Bartoli of France, posting a 6-3, 6-3 win in round 3 of the 2012 Australian Open.

It took just under an hour and a half for Zheng to get the job done. She raced out to a 4-0 lead before Bartoli finally held serve. Zheng then closed out the set at 6-3, and repeated the same score in the second set, joining compatriot Li Na in the round of 16, who won 3-0, Retired over No. 26 seed, Anabel Medina Garrigues.

McHale upsets Bartoli at US Open

Teenager Christina McHale of the USA pulled a huge upset over No. 8 seed, Marion Bartoli of France with a straight-sets victory 7-6(2), 6-2 in round 2 of the 2011 US Open.

Nineteen-year-old Christina hit 20 winners, with 28 unforced errors and converted on 5 of 16 break-point opportunities. Marian hit 21 winners with 38 unforced errors while converting on 3 of 5 break point chances.

Bartoli stops Serena Williams’ hopes for comeback

No. 9 seed, Marion Bartoli of France, shows her excitement after defeating Serena Williams of the USA in round four of the 2011 Wimbledon championships in straight sets, 6-3, 7-6(8-6).

Serena had no answer for the determination and powerful strokes hit by Marion. Serena seemed a little off balance the first set, and picked up her game somewhat during the 2nd set, but to no avail. Marion took the match in the tie-break.

It was the first time Marion has defeated Serena. Serena led the head-to-head series 2-0. In fact, Marion had never won a set off of Serena in their previous meetings.

Wozniacki triumphs over Bartoli at Indian Wells final

World No. 1, Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark, triumphed over No. 15 seed, Marion Bartoli of France, in a tightly fought match at the finals of the 2011 WTA BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells, 6-1, 2-6, 6-3.

Wozniacki proved again why she is ranked at No 1 in a match that lasted 2 hours and 8 minutes. Running Bartoli from side to side at will, Wozniacki easily took the first set, 6-1, making it look like this would be a blowout. Bartoli looked very winded after some of the long grueling points, but stormed back the 2nd set showing she had no intentions of being blown away. With very determined play, she took the 2nd set 6-2.

Clijsters withdraws from match against Bartoli at Indian Wells

No. 2 seed, Kim Clijsters of Belgium, was forced to withdraw from her fourth round match against No. 15 seed, Marion Bartoli of France, at the 2011 WTA BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells today. Clijsters won the first set 6-3, as was trailing 1-2 in the second when she called on her trainer for treatment on her shoulder. She withdrew one game later.

Clijsters said her shoulder pain mainly affected serving and trying to hit high forehands. She claims she withdrew largely as a precaution with Fed Cup duties and the clay court season fast approaching.

Bartoli out for six weeks after calf tear

No. 17 Marion Bartoli of France will be off the court for six weeks after suffering a calf tear during her match against Vesna Manasieva in the second round of the Australian Open. Bartoli, who did not drop a game in her opening match, lost 6-3, 3-6, 6-0 after a strong start.

“It felt like an explosion inside my muscle when I pushed off at one point,” she said. “After that, it was very complicated because I couldn’t use my right leg. I can’t take a plane now because it’s too swollen. I have to stay here for three days. The doctors asked me how I had managed to play another hour and a half. But I’m a competitor. I was up a set, it’s not easy to give up. It might not have been the best decision to take.”

Sharapova loses in first round of Pan Pacific Open

No. 15 ranked Maria Sharapova of Russia was sent packing today by No. 67 ranked wildcard Kimiko Date Krumm of Japan in the first round of the 2010 Pan Pacific Open being played in Tokyo, Japan.

The 23-year-old Maria was the defending champion of this tournament, but was shown the exit door by a local resident and all-time Japanese # 1 Kimiko who turns 40 tomorrow.

Long-time Japanese crowd favorite Kimiko stunned the former world No. 1 Maria 7-5, 3-6, 6-3. Kimiko advanced in 2 hours, 9 minutes, as Maria, still struggling with her serve, piled up 11 double faults and had her big serve broken five times.

Wozniacki, Schiavone, Radwanska and Pennetta among upsets at the 2010 AEGON International

Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark was among the early upsets at the 2010 WTA AEGON International being played June 14-20 in Eastbourne, England. The No. 1 seed was defeated in the 1st round by Aravane Rezai of France 6-4, 1-6, 6-3.

The Wimbledon warmup claimed other top seeds in the 1st round, including No. 2 seed and 2010 French Open champion, Francesca Schiavone of Italy who was eliminated by Sorana Cirstea of Romania 7-5, 6-3.

It appears the warmup is getting the unseeded players more warmed up than the top seeds. It could be an interesting Wimbledon. Warm up your TV sets by Monday, because here we go!

Zakopalova downs Bartoli in Warsaw Open

No. 78 seed, Klara Zakopalova of the Czech Republic, defeated 13th seeded Marion Bartoli of France to advance to the 2nd round of the 2010 WTA Polsat Warsaw Open being played May 17-22 in Warsaw, Poland.

The 28 year-old 2005 champ at Hertogenbosch and Portoz lost the 1st set 4-6, then dominated the final two sets 6-1, 6-2 for the win. Bartoli, 25 years old, was the 2009 champ at Stanford and Monterrey.

It was the second week in a row that Klara has scored a big 1st round victory; last week in Madrid she defeated #5 (and former #1) Dinara Safina in the 1st round, 7-6(1) 7-6(3).

Henin and Clijsters At It Again

The Belgium comeback kids at at each other’s throats again, each having reached the Semifinals of the 2010 WTA Sony Ericsson Open in Miami, Florida, USA. And as misfortune would have it, they are on the same side of the draw. So Justine Henin and Kim Clijsters line up on opposite sides of the net today to determine which of these two comeback kids will play the winner of the other Semifinal match featuring a surprise in No. 13th seed Marion Bartoli of France against a not-surprising No. 3 seed, Venus Williams of the USA.