Analysis for Mauresmo-Bartoli (WTA Brisbane)

Head-to-head record 4:0

Former World no.1 Amelie Mauresmo will face her country-mate Marion Bartoli in the semis at Brisbane. Both players remember better times but we´ll stand with the younger player today. Bartoli is known for her unorthodox and intense style of play on the court. She uses two hands on both the forehand and the backhand, and is generally classed as an aggressive and hard-hitting player. She developed her two-handed style on the advice of her father, who is also her coach. Bartoli also had trouble with her forehand at the time, so when she made the switch to two hands, it greatly improved. She uses her double-fisted strokes to create sharp angles to open up the court and prefers to take the ball early on groundstrokes and especially returns of serve, usually standing close to the baseline or even inside it during rallies. However, she is not a very good mover and is further inhibited by her two-fisted strokes, which can make her vulnerable to fast all-court players. Bartoli is also known for her unusual serve, in which she uses her wrist to generate speed. Her first event during the new WTA calendar is Brisbane. She is seeded third and in the first round crushed Monika Wejnert 6-1, 6-2. In the second round she beat Melinda Czink and in the third she beat Tatiana Garbin in straight sets. She will play Amelie Mauresmo in semifinals and is 0-4 down against her fellow country woman. However, Mauresmo is far behind her best and we believe that Bartoli has the biggest chance ever to defeat her more experienced colleague. In Brisbane, Mauresmo defeated World No. 177 Jelena Dokic in the first round 7–6, 7–6 before defeating French compatriot Julie Coin in the second round 5–7, 6–2, 7–6 in more than 3 hours and saving 3 matchpoints. Then she shockingly eliminated top-seeded Ana Ivanovic in straight sets but she hasn’t been impressive in the first two rounds at all and we don’t think she should be a favourite against Bartoli. Anything above 2 is good enough for us.