Rain and tears as injured Bartoli battles on in New Zealand Classic

0 Comments | AFP, January, 2005

AUCKLAND (AFP) — Top seeds Amy Frazier and Jelena Jankovic have cruised through to the final eight of the New Zealand Classic WTA tournament, but it was fifth seed Marion Bartoli who provided most of the entertainment in the second round.

Bartoli advanced to the quarterfinals with a 2-6, 6-0, 6-2 win over American Jill Craybas, but the scoreline hardly tells the story of a dramatic encounter which put a questionmark over the Frenchwoman's entry into the upcoming Australian Open.

The first set was a straightforward win to Craybas. Then there were rain stoppages, Gallic shrugs and tears from Bartoli -- as she battled a shoulder complaint -- a toilet break for the French player and a generous helping of histrionics as she fought back to take the next two sets.

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