Former Wimbledon champion embraces coaching career
A former world number 7 and 2013 Wimbledon champion Marion Bartoli had played her last tournament in a career in Cincinnati just a few weeks after that Wimbledon crown, announcing her retirement on August 14. In December 2017, Marion had revealed she may make a comeback this season but that never happened, struggling with the shoulder pain deciding to stay away from the court for good. Nonetheless, Bartoli will embrace the new role in her career, becoming a coach of the 19-year-old Lucie Wargnier who is a former junior top-40. Lucie was the national U12 champion and the U14 runner-up but her career was in danger after suffering a terrible knee injury at the end of 2015 that sidelined her from the court for the next 11 months.
She also survived the terrorist attacks on Paris at the same time and all that made her more patient and eager to make the best possible comeback, but only at the right moment. Wargnier made her pro debut at the age of 15 but she had to start all over from November 2016 and she needed some time to gain the form and confidence, unable to make an impact last season but reaching her first pro final this August in Wanfercee-Baulet, Belgium. Now, Lucie is ready to take her career to a higher level together with an experienced compatriot who knows everything about winning big titles and producing the best tennis when it matters the most. Ranked outside the top-700, Wargnier will have to forge her way through the lower-ranked ITF events before getting a chance to compete on the $80,000 or $100,000 level.
"For now she is still smiling!!! Let s see after the next 18 days of practice!! Very happy to start coaching this young French girl Lucie Wargnier," said Bartoli.
from Tennis World USA https://ift.tt/2RLLKKP
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