France’s Marion Bartoli wins women’s Wimbledon final

France's Marion Bartoli beat a visibly nervous Sabine Lisicki on Saturday in two consecutive sets to win her first major at Wimbledon, a deserved victory for a woman who had competed in 46 previous Grand Slams without a championship.

Bartoli – who won sets 6-1, 6-4 in one hour and 21 minutes – is the first French woman to win in the London singles since her coach, Amelie Mauresmo, raised the trophy in 2006.

“Gosh, dreams came true," said Bartoli. “And maybe all the candles I burned on this kind of helped me.”

A series of upsets early in the tournament had helped the 15th seeded 28-year-old reach the final. In fact, she did not compete against anyone seeded in the top 10. Sloane Stephens, seeded 17th, was Bartoli's highest ranked opponent. Lisicki was seeded at 23.

“I think I was just overwhelmed by this whole situation,” a Lisicki said in her concession speech.

Bartoli is the first female player outside the top 10 to win Wimbledon since Venus Williams, ranked 31st, won in 2007. Ironically, Williams beat Bartoli, who had not played in a final since.