Ailing Bartoli goes down fighting to Bammer

By Claudia Parsons

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Former Wimbledon runner-up Marion Bartoli said it was a "miracle" she could battle on for more than three hours on Sunday after she suffered from low blood pressure during her fourth-round loss to Sybille Bammer.

"I had very low blood pressure and very weak pulse and the trainer advised me not to continue, especially because it was so hot," Bartoli told reporters following her 7-6 0-6 6-4 defeat by Bammer.

Bartoli, who had her pressure checked on court midway through the first set, had her problems compounded as she had barely eaten anything in the 36 hours before the match.

"I was sick since yesterday morning because I caught a stomach virus. Since then I had not eaten anything except one glass of orange juice.

"It's a miracle I stayed in for three sets," added Bartoli, who also received on court treatment for back pain.

Austrian Bammer reached the quarter-finals of a grand slam for the first time when she beat the French 12th seed.

At three hours three minutes, it was one of the longest women's matches at the U.S. Open and a punishing test for Bartoli.

Bartoli, who had beaten Lindsay Davenport to reach the fourth round, struggled with the humid conditions and despite her discomfort took the opening set into a tiebreak.

The Austrian took the initiative by charging to the net and after producing several volley winners, she claimed it 7-3.

Bartoli ran away with the second set but the third was another tight battle with Bammer back on form at the net and Bartoli showing signs of weariness, calling another medical timeout for attention to her thighs.

Serving to stay in at 4-5 and 0-30 down, Bartoli lost her touch and handed Bammer victory with two loose groundstrokes.

The 28-year-old Bammer recorded her previous best grand slam results at last year's French and U.S. Opens where she reached the fourth round.

Bammer will play second seed Jelena Jankovic in the quarters.

(Editing by Pritha Sarkar and Larry Fine)