Tipsarevic retires hurt, Seppi wins 1st title
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Janko Tipsarevic may have to miss Wimbledon after slipping and injuring his groin during the Eastbourne final on Saturday.
The match was won by unseeded Andreas Seppi, who claimed his first career title when the third-seeded Serbian retired while losing 7-6 (5), 3-6, 5-3. Seppi became the first Italian to win an ATP title since Filippo Volandri in Palermo in October 2006.
Marion Bartoli of France warmed up for Wimbledon by defeating Petra Kvitova of the Czech Republic 6-1, 4-6, 7-5 in the women's final.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below.
EASTBOURNE, England (AP) — Marion Bartoli of France warmed up for Wimbledon by defeating Petra Kvitova 6-1, 4-6, 7-5 Saturday in the final of the Eastbourne grass-court tournament.
Bartoli played twice after the women's and men's semifinals were postponed Friday because of rain. She also beat Australian Samantha Stosur 6-3, 6-1 in the semifinal.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}"I had to fight really hard, especially playing two matches back-to-back on the same day," Bartoli said. "I had the lead in the second set but couldn't close it out. Petra started to play very well. She was hitting the ball very hard and very deep."
Kvitova advanced when unseeded Daniela Hantuchova of Slovakia retired because of an abdominal injury with Kvitova leading 7-6 (9), 4-2.
Janko Tipsarevic of Serbia and unseeded Italian Andreas Seppi will play the men's final. Tipsarevic defeated Kei Nishikori of Japan 6-2, 6-4, and Seppi outlasted Igor Kunitsyn 6-4, 2-6, 6-4.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Bartoli claimed her first title in nearly two years. She was runner-up at Indian Wells and Strasbourg this season.
Kvitova held off two break points to begin the final set, and at 1-1 Bartoli left the court for treatment for a left hamstring injury.
Both players faced a number of break points upon the restart, before Bartoli took a 4-3 lead when Kvitova hit two consecutive double-faults.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}She failed to serve out the match at 5-4 but broke again to lead 6-5 when Kvitova made a backhand error and claimed victory at her second opportunity.
Bartoli was not concerned about her injury and looked forward to Wimbledon, which starts on Monday.
"My muscle started to get tight and after the support I received with the tape it was better," she said. "Now I have two days off, so I am definitely going to be okay for Wimbledon."
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Hantuchova is not so optimistic about playing at the All England Club.
"It happened at 3-love in the first set," she said. "I was running for a wide backhand and kind of felt a sharp pain and it just was getting worse and worse.
"Seeing the doctor now, and as soon as I come to Wimbledon I will try to work with the physios and try to do something to be able to be ready for Monday."
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Serena and Venus Williams competed at Eastbourne after long injury layoffs. They lost in the early rounds.