Bartoli reduces Gajdosova to tears

Marion Bartoli left Jarmila Gajdosova in tears after routing the Australian 6-0 6-0 as France eased to a 3-0 Hopman Cup victory in Perth yesterday.

Spain overcame China 2-1 and the winner of tomorrow’s France-Spain clash will be guaranteed a place in the final of the mixed-team event.

Bartoli was in imperious form to blast Gajdosova off court in 52 minutes in a match broadcast on prime-time television in Australia. Gajdosova was angered during the first set when pro-Bartoli sections of the crowd cheered her errors and the world No 33 cried during the final games and again as she left the court.

“I’m sorry I beat her that way,” world No 9 Bartoli said. “I was just focusing on my own game and not really looking at the scoreboard. Jarmila is a lovely girl and when I saw her in tears, it was really heartbreaking. I’m sure she will bounce back.”

Bartoli’s team-mate Richard Gasquet secured victory for France with a 6-2, 5-7, 6-1 win over Lleyton Hewitt. Gasquet and Bartoli then overcame Gajdosova and Hewitt 6-3 6-4 in the dead mixed doubles rubber.

Earlier, Li Na continued her form resurgence but was unable to prevent China’s defeat by Spain. She peeled off 18 forehand winners to beat Anabel Medina Garrigues 6-3 6-1, but Spain’s Fernando Verdasco made light work of the lowest-ranked player in the tournament, world number 424 Wu Di, cruising through 6-3 6-4. Wu also struggled in the deciding mixed doubles which Spain won 6-0, 6-2.