WTA Beijing Open: Marion Bartoli vs. Christina McHale

Marion Bartoli is set for a tricky second round showdown against Christina McHale on Monday at the China Open.

Marion Bartoli was engaged in a thrilling first round encounter with Iveta Benesova on Sunday, in which she came back from a set down to seal a 3-6, 6-4, 7-5 success. Over the space of two and a half hours, the world No. 10 only managed to win only six more points than Benesova, scraping victory by a very slim margin.

It looks like Bartoli will have no time to rest on her laurels though, as she’s been drawn against Christina McHale of America in round two. McHale denied Bartoli in straight sets at this year’s U.S Open, so she clearly shouldn’t be ruled out. The 19 year-old has started to make her mark on the WTA scene this year, and a good performance here could get her inside the top fifty.

Bartoli would usually be expected to have the edge in this match, but McHale has already proven capable of beating her in a high pressure situation. This time around, McHale won’t be able to rely on the backing of a home crowd, but it’s hard to assess how much this will alter the outcome of Monday’s matchup.