From Supermarion
Marion Plays The Blues At Louis Armstrong Stadium
Frequently in sport, when an underdog performs a feat of giant killing, they then go on to lose the next match. Maybe it’s the euphoria of a fine victory, or maybe its the pressure of expectation - the fans and flash bulbs. Whatever the root causes, sadly these symptoms appeared this evening and conspired with sickness to defeat Marion on Armstrong Stadium.
After her fine victory over Lindsay Davenport on Friday, Marion’s participation at the 2008 US Open is now at an end. Losing 6-7 6-0 4-6 to Sybille Bammer after more than three gruelling humid hours in which Marion had the trainer on court twice.
Marion said, "I had very low blood pressure and very weak pulse and the trainer advised me not to continue, especially because it was so hot. I was sick since yesterday morning because I caught a stomach virus. Since then I had not eaten anything except one glass of orange juice. It's a miracle I stayed in for three sets,"
Marion's malady was verified again by the doctor who took her blood pressure on court.
Troubled by her physical condition from the beginning of the match, Marion’s game unsurprisingly wasnt able to reach the heights that it did against Davenport. Nevertheless Both players remained kneck and kneck throughout the first set, but each time Marion’s service game came round, it was sweaty palm time!
Dropping her serve late in the set, it’s a testimony to Marion’s fighting qualities that she broke back to take it into a tie break. Unfortunately her serve failed her and Bammer raced into a 5-1 lead, closing out (7/3).
Bammer was frankly blown away by Marion in both previous encounters in the past 12 months. The second set looked to be getting back on message. Quicker than one could say Allez, Marion jazzed things up with at 6-0 set. yet despite the overwhelming second set scoreline, you just knew the match wasn’t over. You just knew it would be a nervy grandstand finish.
Breaking early in the second set, Marion was a point away from consolidating her break for a 3-1 lead. But Bammer broke to even the score at 2-2.
Moving gingerly in the third set, Marion nevertheless fought galantly to maintain the level scoreline, with a big hold after several deuces for 4-4.
A Bammer hold to 15 for 5-4 left Marion the task of serving to stray in the tournament.
Marion’s opponent quickly earned three match points. With the second one, Sybille Bammer sent Marion on a flight home.
Her Austrian opponent didn’t earn her win on the quality of her play, It would be fair to say Bammer’s game somewhat lacked finesse and accuracy, accumulating a huge unforced error count, twice that of Marion.
On statistics alone it is hard to see where Marion went wrong, as she was marginally superior in most areas, and significantly so in other areas. But sometimes it isnt just about ability, but about the ability to remain in the fight. Braveheart Marion eventually lost the fight. But it was not for want of trying to overcome the effects of a sickness which impaired her performance. She had the heart, She fought tremendously. But the body just gave way.
The match itself equalled the longest ever womens match on record at Flushing Meadows. This speaks volumes about Marion's character. The score may be dissapointing for all concerned, but fans can be proud.
The fact that a real opportunity has went awry cant be disguised. But although Marion's visit to New York this year has ended on a low note, over the past 3 months Marion’s form has greatly improved. Positives can be taken from this slam. She may rise in the next rankings too.
We trust Marion wont feel this heart-breaker too long, and that she will be fighting fit and furious in Tokyo."
And lets hope there are no more viruses for Marion to catch there. She must be worn out by theses things