Marion Bartoli accepted a wildcard for the Barcelona Ladies Open and was a top seed at the event, but fell in the first round to Magdalena Rybarikova 6-4 6-1, who scored her first real victory over the Frenchwoman in their six meetings (Rybarikova had defeated Bartoli once, but it was a retirement).
Both Rybarikova and Bartoli won just 48% of points on their first serve, but the 72nd-ranked Slovak was much better in converting break opportunities, especially in the second set, and hence the decisive scoreline.
By beating the world No.13 Bartoli, Rybarikova scored her best win, ranking-wise, since Tokyo 2009, when she defeated Nadia Petrova, who was also ranked 13th. (photo: © Neal Trousdale)
She said clay is her less favourite surface
Oh, what a mess! She was the best in this seeding-list!!!!!