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PARIS (Reuters) - Gusting winds at Roland Garros helped defending champion Francesca Schiavone into the French Open final, according to her beaten semi-final opponent Marion Bartoli.
"The wind blew away some clay as the match went on," explained Bartoli, who lost 6-3 6-3 on court Philippe Chatrier on Thursday.
"Her slice would get lower and lower and it took me a lot of energy to adjust.
"It did really bother me. In order to dictate the points as I like to, I had to bend a lot and physically I had to make much more effort than usual."
Bartoli, who was bidding to become the first Frenchwoman to win the title at Roland Garros since Mary Pierce in 2000, acknowledged the better player had won.
"She's at ease on clay because it is more receptive to the effects you give to the ball," she said. "I did not play a bad match, but she played a bit too well today."
Bartoli said the turning point came in the eighth game, when she blew a 40-15 lead on her serve to concede the first break.
"If I had been able to hold serve there, the match could have gone either way," she told a news conference. "I was playing against the wind and then she wrapped it up with the wind at her back."
(Editing by John Mehaffey; To query or comment on this story email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)
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"The wind blew away some clay as the match went on," explained Bartoli, who lost 6-3 6-3 on court Philippe Chatrier on Thursday.
"Her slice would get lower and lower and it took me a lot of energy to adjust.
"It did really bother me. In order to dictate the points as I like to, I had to bend a lot and physically I had to make much more effort than usual."
Bartoli, who was bidding to become the first Frenchwoman to win the title at Roland Garros since Mary Pierce in 2000, acknowledged the better player had won.
"She's at ease on clay because it is more receptive to the effects you give to the ball," she said. "I did not play a bad match, but she played a bit too well today."
Bartoli said the turning point came in the eighth game, when she blew a 40-15 lead on her serve to concede the first break.
"If I had been able to hold serve there, the match could have gone either way," she told a news conference. "I was playing against the wind and then she wrapped it up with the wind at her back."
(Editing by John Mehaffey; To query or comment on this story email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)
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