People do plenty of things that they’d rather not have their parents watch. Playing in the third round of Wimbledon is not one of those things that immediately comes to mind.
Wimbledon 2011: Marion Bartoli Sends Parents, Opponent Packing
But after she dropped the first set in her third round match against No. 21 Flavia Pennetta, 2007 Wimbledon finalist Marion Bartoli, the ninth-seeded player in the Ladies’ Singles draw, ordered her parents to scram.
And scram they did, picking up their things from their seats and walking away from Court 12.
The dismissal paid dividends, as Bartoli fought back to defeat Pennetta 5-7, 6-4, 9-7, setting up a fourth round match with Serena Williams.
Bartoli’s parents were seen watching the match intently on a nearby screen.
After the match, Bartoli explained her fifth commandment-breaking heave-ho, saying that yelling at her parents was merely a way of venting frustration, like breaking a racquet.
Her parents hardly seemed angered by the eviction. Bartoli’s father (and coach), Walter, said that his presence was adding “an emotional extra pressure. She has made a good decision.”
If only all family gatherings could be unceremoniously ended with so few hard feelings.
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