Marion Bartoli: Bitter Sweet Victory

So after everyone slipped and fell all over the place, one player became victorious on the women's side.  Marion Bartoli won against Sabina Lisicki and I won an easy $5 from my wife.  Easiest bet I've made all year.

Most people sided with Sabine Lisicki in this final.  She seriously got TV endorsements and everything.  I don't have a problem with Sabine....but really?

1. Bartoli had been to the final once before.
2. Bartoli had not dropped a set.
3. Bartoli is more consistent with her wins.
4. Bartoli is a Genius
5. Bartoli works incredibly hard.

The only things that Sabine had going for her was:
1. Fan Support
2. Stronger weapons all around
3. Can beat anyone

The question is, did people pick Sabine as the favorite because she was prettier?  People tried to hide their blatant bias by talking about Sabine's strengths and who she beat.  It makes me pretty upset that people think that someone should win because they are better looking.  If you want to route for them I get it.  But don't be an idiot.  This one was so clear to me I was FLABBERGASTED how many people KNEW Lisicki was going to win.  EVEN people whose body type favors Bartoli more than Lisicki.

If you are an athlete on the highest stage of tennis, why is it that someone can still believe that you aren't supposed to be there because you don't follow some sort of crappy stereotype?  The reason that I fell in love with tennis is that it strips you and others of any excuses.  There are no teammates to blame for your shortcomings.  Just you, your opponent, nature, and inanimate objects.  A win is a win.  I've lost to some UGLY looking players and beaten some great looking ones.

This is what I believe the problem is with American Tennis and why we don't have anymore champions on the men's side.  They aren't bad but i feel we profile them as kids.  We have very strong players that don't look like blond white guys and they all go to college because no one believes in them enough to help them.  In the 90's we had a greek, half iranian, and chinese, champions and black finalists.  Now it's just white guys and James Blake and people wonder why USA is doing so poorly on the men's side.  How is it that we took a step backward?  The advantage USA has over other countries is our diversity.