Bartoli in doubt for French Open

Marion Bartoli was in a major doubt for the French Open after a possible thigh injury forced her to retire from the final of the Strasbourg International tennis against German Andrea Petkovic on Saturday.

Marion Bartoli was in a major doubt for the French Open after a possible thigh injury forced her to retire from the final of the Strasbourg International tennis against German Andrea Petkovic on Saturday.

HT Image

The top-seeded Frenchwoman had her left thigh strapped at the end of the first set and threw in the towel when she was 6-4 1-0 down.

Bartoli's retirement gave the 23-year-old, Bosnia-born Petkovic her second WTA title.

World number 15 Petkovic won the Bad Gastein tournament in 2009.

Bartoli is seeded 11th for the French Open, which starts on Sunday, and is drawn to face Anna Tatishvili of Georgia in the first round.

"It's extremely disappointing. The pain got worse suddenly. It's brutal but I have to accept it. I still have one day and a half to recuperate," the Frenchwoman told reporters.

"We will see how it goes. It's time to pray for a miracle."