Unlikely Bartoli vs Lisicki final, a clash of styles

A clash of styles featuring an unorthodox Frenchwoman and a smooth powerful German will play out when Marion Bartoli and Sabine Lisicki bid to etch their names on to the Wimbledon honours board on Saturday.

Emerging unscathed from the chaos of a women’s draw that scattered the favourites and opened the door for a new champion are two players who were 1,500-1 outsiders to contest the final two weeks ago. 

Yet the unpredictability of either reaching the final at the outset is where any similarity between the two ends. Lisicki, who has a nearpermanent smile stretched across her face, has a gameplan that has become conventional on the nippy lawns of the All England Club - a hammerhead serve, backed up by walloping forehands. Bartoli, however, is one of the most unorthodox players on the tour. 

A whirl of perpetual motion, she leaps from foot to foot practicing air shots and has an odd repertoire of mannerisms. She is a bundle of nervous energy that frequently explodes through her double-fisted forehands and backhands. While 23rd seed Lisicki has captured the hearts of the home fans, Bartoli is almost surly on court, in contrast to the cheery personality she displays when the action is done and dusted. The pair have enjoyed contrasting routes to the final. 

The German has had to wield the hatchet to arrive at this point, first dethroning favourite Serena Williams in the fourth round before upsetting last year’s runnerup Agnieszka Radwanska in the last four. Having picked the brains of another of Germany’s former Wimbledon heroes, three-time men’s champion Boris Becker, Lisocki feels her time has come.

 ‘It’s been a great journey and it hasn’t finished yet,’ she said. ‘From the start of the tournament I had great matches and good challenges which prepared me for tomorrow.’Meanwhile Marion Bartoli said ‘I think I’ve been able to deal with the pressure really well and keep improving throughout the Championships and keep playing better.’