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Marion Bartoli dons maiden Wimbledon crown as rival is reduced to tears

Crippling stage fright condemns Lisicki to defeat at the hands of power-serving Frenchwoman

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Marion Bartoli celebrates beating Sabine Lisicki in their women's singles final match at Wimbledon yesterday. Photo: AFP

One of the strangest Wimbledons yet produced one of its quirkiest champions - Marion Bartoli - winner of a hard-to-watch final that had the overwhelmed runner-up in near tears while the match was still going on.

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France's Bartoli, whose power game bothered Sabine Lisicki as much as any of her notable eccentricities, won 6-1, 6-4 yesterday to capture her first grand slam title in her 47th appearance at a major.

"Honestly, I just can't believe it. As a little girl, I dreamt of this moment for so long," Bartoli said.

"Finishing with an ace to win Wimbledon, even in my wildest dreams I couldn't have imagined that. I'm just so happy to be holding this trophy."

She addressed Lisicki, who was shaking and in tears.

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"I was there in 2007 and I missed it," said Bartoli, the runner-up to Venus Williams that year. "I know how it feels, Sabine, and I'm sure you will be there one more time. I have no doubt about it."

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