| Wednesday, 25 June 2008 Written by Adam Lincoln A spirited Marion Bartoli, runner-up to Venus Williams at The Championships last year, overcame a second set slump to defeat Tatiana Perebiynis in straight sets, 6-2, 7-5. In the first set, the 11th seeded Frenchwoman’s biggest challenge was posed by the conditions, as both players struggled to find rhythm on breezy Court 11. Indeed, across the match just 50 per cent of her first serves would hit the mark. Perebiynis enjoyed better success on her delivery – 70 per cent – but struggled to convert that record to actual points won. However, midway through the second set, the Ukrainian’s perseverance with the sliced backhand drop shot began to pay dividend, as she exploited the double-fisted Bartoli’s limited reach off both wings. Upon breaking Bartoli for 3-2, the 27-year-old world number 67 held serve with another drop shot and lobbed the net-bound Bartoli to secure a second break. However, presented with a chance to serve for the set, the Ukrainian’s guile deserted her, only to be replaced by meek play. While Bartoli, 23, remained vulnerable on the stretch, her greater weight of shot began to tell as the rallies wore on. Perebiynis’s resolve hardened as the set grew tighter, but it would not be enough to halt a five-game winning streak by the Frenchwoman. Bartoli advances to a third round meeting with Bethanie Mattek of the United States, herself a straight-sets victor over Vera Dushevina of Russia.
| Court 11 - Ladies' Singles - 2nd Round | |
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Match Statistics
