Marion Bartoli prepared for her Wimbledon semi-final win over Kirsten Flipkens by sleeping in the locker room until 30 minutes before going onto court.
The eccentric Frenchwoman stormed past Flipkens 6-1, 6-2 in just over an hour before revealing her unique way of preparing for her 1pm start.
“I was asleep from 12 until 1230, you can ask the physio,” she said.
“And I was still razor-sharp right from the start.”
Flipkens said she preferred to sleep in the morning rather than in the run-up to a match.
“I don’t know what her rituals are. I just like to sleep long before my match, and then wake up at 9:30 or 9:45 to be prepared, eat some carbohydrates,” said the Belgian.
“Each player has their own thing to do.”
Bartoli sleepwalks into Wimbledon final
