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Marion Bartoli described her 2013 Wimbledon win as "a life-saving moment" as that particular success helped her push through the most difficult period of her life that came a few years later. Bartoli, who is now 38 years old, lifted her first Grand Slam title at 2013 Wimbledon and then retired from pro tennis a month later.
After retirement, Bartoli entered a new romantic relationship the following year. But it was an abusive relationship as Bartoli would often get mentally abused and body shamed by her ex-partner for her appearance. It resulted in Bartoli suffering from anorexia and depression.
“Even though you have been able to achieve something on court, as a person when someone puts you down constantly, he gets into your head. You start to believe, ‘Maybe I wasn’t that good. Maybe I’m a little too chubby.
Maybe I’m doing this not well’. You start to doubt more and more, to where you feel there was no point anymore," Bartoli told The Telegraph.
Bartoli on how the Wimbledon win kept her pushing
At one point, Bartoli's weight came down to just 41kgs and she was also battling major depression.
Even though life didn't make much sense for Bartoli at that time, the 2013 Wimbledon champion kept believing there was still something for her. “It’s the mentality of not giving up. As a champion, you have to be stubborn, and believe in what you’re doing until you achieve what you want to achieve.
I think for me, it was that stubbornness, refusing to give my life away, because at some point I was so depressed I felt life didn’t have any point for me," Bartoli said. Now, Bartoli is in a much better space and doing well in life again.
Since 2019, Bartoli has been married and she has a kid she delivered in 2020 December. Also, Bartoli regularly works in tennis broadcasting.