Wimbledon 2013: Ladies final preview - Sabine Lisicki vs Marion Bartoli

“One love, one heart, one destiny.” ? Bob Marley

It’s been the fabled tale of two marvellous women this fortnight who, through their steely resolve, unwavering will and above all, ardent love for the game, have given themselves a chance to be a part of history.

Before the first Monday of Wimbledon, if anybody had suggested either of their names as one of the finalists on the prestigious second Saturday of The Championships then that person would have been scoffed at, or regarded as a lunatic! But here they are after making the impossible possible standing so close to their own destinies. What will their future unravel? We look at the possibility.

Sabine Lisicki and Marion Bartoli meet each other in the final

Sabine Lisicki (23) v Marion Bartoli (15) (Head-to-head: Lisicki leads 3-1, tied 1-1 on grass)

‘’It’s been a great journey and hasn’t finished yet’’, Sabine Lisicki underlines with a lot of emphasis in her pre-match press conference.

The 23-year-old German knows that in spite of having some of the most remarkable victories, it is this all-important match that counts! If many had expected her to take her foot off the pedal after her resounding triumph over the seemingly impervious Serena Williams, she had come back hard at them. She has kept on pushing herself to the limits, and that’s what has rewarded her with her first appearance in a Grand Slam final.

Perhaps it’s her supreme affection for the world’s most elite tennis tournament that spurs her on. The crowd adores her vivaciousness, her radiant smile, and the fact that she never stops beaming during her matches. The girl with the sunny disposition too loves them back.

But it didn’t start off like this. Lisicki had an allergy for grass which affected her when she came to SW19 in 2008. Since then, with the use of medication, she has learnt to overcome her adversity and has exuded her charm on the courts. She has the ‘Howitzer’ serve, the booming forehands, the lightning speed and the disguise with her frequent use of the dropshot-lob combination.

And that’s what has aided her in scripting a memorable journey at Wimbledon ever since she stepped on the verdant lawns in 2009. Two quarter-finals, one semi-final and now a final, and her prized scalps include Svetlana Kuznetsova, Caroline Wozniacki, Li Na, Maria Sharapova, Serena Williams, Agnieszka Radwanska and also the opponent she would face in the final – Marion Bartoli.

Yes, the quirky Frenchwoman may have lost their last encounter at Wimbledon in three sets, but that doesn’t suppress the determination that she has got. She has got experience of a Wimbledon final and hence burgeoning self-confidence.

If Lisicki’s sparkling resume shows her illustrious scalps, then she too has Justine Henin and Serena Williams amongst her victims on these courts. The French No. 1 famously signalled her presence by engulfing the Belgian No. 1 in a stunning three-set triumph in 2007, which paved her way to her first major final.

Even though she was trounced by the far superior Venus Williams in the summit clash, Bartoli has said she feels fresher this time and surely knows what it is like to go out there on Centre Court and fight tooth and nail for a piece of everlasting glory. She clearly signals her intentions when she says, “I just want to win the match tomorrow (Saturday) and just be ready for the fight again.”