FORMER Wimbledon champ Marion Bartoli was said to be ‘extremely upset’ after she was replaced in an invitation doubles match by the All England Club on ‘medical’ grounds.
The French ace’s dramatic weight loss since she retired just 40 days after winning the 2013 ladies’ singles crown has been cause for concern in the lead up to this year’s tournament.
But not as far as the 31-year-old is concerned – she is adamant she is just returning to her ‘natural shape’ and ‘tiny frame’ after dropping from 10st 7lb to 7st 5lb.
She had previously been invited by Wimbledon organisers to play in the Ladies’ Invitation Doubles – an exhibition contest held in the second week of the tournament.
Friends said that she had been extremely upset by the decision to replace her, which followed an assessment by a doctor.
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The assessment did not prevent her spending a full day working at Wimbledon as a summariser for Fox Asia television.
The All England Club issued a brief statement and would not add to it: “MarionBartoli (FRA) is replaced in the Ladies’ Invitation Doubles event (medical). Her place is taken by Melanie South (GBR).”
Bartoli said that she did not want to speak about the All England Club’s decision.
Last month, she admitted to adhering to a strict diet insisted that she was fit and healthy.
She became a Wimbledon crowd favourite during her run to the 2013 final and forgave the BBC broadcaster John Inverdale after he asked Radio 5 Live listeners: “Do you think Bartoli’s dad told her when she was little: ‘You’re never going to be a looker?’ ”
He later apologised to her at the champions’ ball, where she replied: “Don’t worry about that, what do you think of my heels?”
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