Wimbledon 2011 Results: Will Sabine Lisicki Complete Wimbledon Cinderella Story?

If you missed this morning’s duel between unranked Sabine Lisicki and No. 9 seed Marion Bartoli, then you missed a quality showdown which could vault Lisicki to new heights.

Many believed Bartoli would cruise to the finals after toppling the dominant Serena Williams, yet the French woman was outmatched by a resilient and gutsy 21-year-old German.

Lisicki is enjoying her best run as a professional and could use Bartoli as a stepping stone to greatness, much like many believed Bartoli would do after taking down Serena in the fourth round.

Although she stumbled at times against Marion, sailing return shots too long or too wide, she consistently managed to regroup and regain composure.

She lost the middle set, which went to tiebreak, but bookended the bout with 6-4 and 6-1 victories. It was her outstanding composure which led to her fantastic performance and ultimate victory over the confident Bartoli.

Lisicki is looking to become the next great women’s tennis star, and she is making immense strides in this year’s tournament.

She will likely have to take down superstar Maria Sharapova in the semifinals, but she has proven throughout Wimbledon 2011 that she has the grit and mental toughness to finally reign supreme.

It only takes one special tournament to create a new star. We often see athletes make a name for themselves as they complete the epic Cinderella story, and Lisicki will be well on her way with two more victories. Even if she loses in the finals, she would be highly regarded the rest of the year for having taken down Bartoli and Sharapova on her way to the Wimbledon finale.

She is poised to defeat Sharapova, who could crumble in the face of insurmountable pressure as the clear-cut favorite to win it all.

Despite some pressure to take the crown for Germany, Lisicki has already shown us everything necessary to win at Wimbledon and complete this storybook ending—the quickness, court awareness, solid serve and most importantly, the mental toughness.