Twenty-eight-year-old Marion Bartoli made a tough decision to break free from her father Walter’s 22-year-long tennis guidance, and despite talks that Amelie Mauresmo would be her new coach, Jana Novotna was hired ahead of Indian Wells and will work with the world No.11 full time. After reaching the Indian Wells quarterfinals with a 6-4 6-3 victory over Svetlana Kuznetsova, Bartoli ran to Novotna for a hug. Bartoli’s next opponent is sixth seed Sara Errani.
Bartoli met Novotna, who happens to share her birthday of October 2nd, in Doha and is happy to be coached by a woman, believing that a woman champion can understand her best. The 44-year-old Novotna won one Grand Slam in singles in her career and it was at Wimbledon, where Bartoli played her sole Grand Slam final in 2007. (source: Tennis.com, photo via MungoNGus)
Will Wozniacki get inspire by this or will she wait like Bartoli till she late her career to replace her father?