EASTBOURNE: Marion Bartoli of France won the first grasscourt title of her career Saturday, defeating Czech Petra Kvitova 6-1, 4-6, 7-5 in the Eastbourne final, having played two matches in one day. Bartoli now heads into Wimbledon, which starts Monday, with supreme confidence after earning victory in blowy conditions and the threat of rain in two hours, 19 minutes. The men's title was decided in dramatic fashion as light faded in the evening after a racquet smash, a brief rain interruption and finally an injury withdrawal three points form the potential end. Clay-bred Italian Andrea Seppi came up the winner for his first career title when the Serb third seed Janko Tipsarevic retired hurt 7-6 (7-5), 3-6, 5-3. Tipsarevic quit after falling over following a rain delay and hobbling for a few points before the retirement. Bartoli, the world No. 9, who was the Wimbledon runner-up in 2007, losing to Serena Williams, saved seven of 10 break points while breaking Kvitova on five occasions. Her title triumph came only hours after Bartoli had played a rain-delayed semifinal held over from Friday, thrashing Australia's Samantha Stosur 6-3, 6-1. “It's great to come up with a win, but it was a huge challenge again today,” said Bartoli. “I was not used to playing matches on the same day. It was an entertaining final. Petra was hitting the ball very hard and very deep, so she had all the credit for coming back. Then at the end it was just fighting and trying to find a way to win.” She had also defeated Kvitova in their only other meeting in 2008 indoors. Vinci, Tursunov win Unicef Open In the Netherlands, Italy's Roberta Vinci rallied from a set down to beat Jelena Dokic 6-7 (7), 6-3, 7-5 in the women's final at the Unicef Open Saturday, while Russia's Dmitry Tursunov won the men's event with a 6-3, 6-2 victory over Ivan Dodig. Vinci's success in a closely fought match brought the Italian her fifth WTA Tour title, but her first on grass. “Now I'm on my way to Wimbledon,” she said. “I'm a little tired after this week, but that's OK, you know. I won.” In the men's final, Dodig failed to capitalize on three break points in the first set, while Tursunov had one and took it. The second set was halted at 2-2 for a rain delay and when play resumed, Dodig's form deteriorated and the Croatian was unable to hold serve. Federer dreaming of 7th title Roger Federer admits he feels so confident going into Wimbledon that he is already dreaming of lifting a record-equalling seventh trophy at his favorite Grand Slam. Federer has arrived at Wimbledon in good spirits after missing the Halle tournament to recover from a groin injury suffered during his run to the French Open final. After winning Wimbledon six times in his magnificent career, it is hardly surprising Federer relishes his trips to the All England Club and he already has a good feeling about his bid to draw level with Pete Sampras' record of seven Wimbledon titles in the Open era. “There's always something on the line at this point when I play the Grand Slams. I know I could tie with Sampras here. It's obviously something very special and important at this point really,” Federer said. “For me if I close my eyes and think about Wimbledon, it's the moment when I lift the Wimbledon trophy. That's the picture I see the strongest.”
