By Lauren Lynch
Photo Credit: Tony Chang/ Chang Photography

(March 20, 2011) Battling it out for a high quality tennis final on Sunday, World No. 1, Sunny Caroline Wozniacki played Frenchwoman and World No.17 Marion Bartoli ending with a three setter 6-1, 2-6, 6-3 that was thrilling for the packed stadium full of fans at the BNP Paribas Open.

"Marion- amazing tournament this week. I'm sorry I had to beat you in the finals," Wozniacki said to Bartoli. "Well, Marion is a player who is also trying to play very aggressively, taking the ball early. She's not going to give me a lot of free points."

With her doctor father watching closely, Marion proved that true as she fought out the second set to win it 6-2 after losing the first set and fought in the third set from being down 1-4 to win the next two games. She was quick and aggressive showing her latest conditioning and fitness. Bartoli successfully went through Monica Niculescu, Andrea Petkovic, Kim Clijsters, Ana Ivanovic, and Yanina Wickmayer. She gracefully lost and spoke highly of Wozniacki.


"I lost against Caroline I think few weeks ago in Doha very easily. She played some really great tennis since the beginning of the year. She's No. 1 in the world. She's very confident." Bartoli said of Wozniacki' "But she's not No. 1 in the world for nothing, so she's really not giving you much. You have really to earn every single points."

Showing why she is No. 1 in the world, Wozniacki was a finalist in last year's Indian Wells tournament to Jelena Jankovic but proudly took the title in 2011 after defeating Sloane Stephens, Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez, Alisa Kleybanova, Victoria Azarenka, Maria Sharapova, and Bartoli.

Will 2011 be the year for Wozniacki’s first Grand Slam title?