A whirring machine, discarded water bottles, a sweat-soaked workout space … Marion Bartoli’s comeback bid appears to be in full swing.
The Frenchwoman shared a video on her Instagram account from a stationary bike workout in the gym at Dubai Marina, having already clocked more than 20 minutes on the bike.
A Wimbledon champion in 2013, Bartoli seemed at pains to demonstrate the punishing nature of the workout, wringing out her sweat-soaked top as she pedalled manically.
“As you can see it’s JUST ME, THE DETERMINATION TO FINISH AND A LOT OF #sweat, #RAW and #real, no filter, can’t hide yourself or cheat,” she wrote in the post.
“I promise you, I will give my 100% to be ready to compete again #nevergiveup.”
Having retired in August 2013 due to chronic injuries, Bartoli announced in December 2017 that she was targeting a comeback to professional tennis, aiming for a return at the Miami Open in March.
She made her first public appearance on a tennis court at the Tie Break Tens exhibition event in New York on the eve of Indian Wells, falling to Serena Williams in her one and only match.
Yet Bartoli was not awarded a Miami Open wildcard, with the tournament tweeting: “After playing her exhibition in NYC last week, she decided she wanted more time to train before returning. We are rooting for her!”
Reporter Kamakshi Tandon, in a piece for tennis.com on 16 March, wrote: “According to French press, Bartoli withdrew (from Miami) with a hip and foot problem, and will also not be taking the wildcard she had been given at the WTA event at Monterrey the following week. She was described as being reluctant to return on clay, but could potentially return at Birmingham, or another grass-court event.”
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