By Matthew Cronin
Since announcing herself with a surprise final appearance at Wimbledon in 2007, the Frenchwoman struggled to reach those giddy heights in subsequent years.
She has re-emerged as a force this season, however, making her first French Open semi-final before following up with a last eight appearance at Wimbledon.
"I could have won," Bartoli, who lost in three sets in a ferocious match with Lisicki, told Reuters at the Stanford Classic, where she has reached the semifinals.
"I was so close. It's not that before I didn't believe I could win a grand slam, but in a way there was a little voice saying, 'maybe you don't belong there, maybe it's not your spot'.
"Now I really know I can be a grand slam champion. I beat Petra Kvitova in the final of Eastbourne and she won Wimbledon.
"I'm sure if keep the same level and positive energy, I will be able to win a grand slam. But between thinking you can do it and actually doing it, there is also a gap."
Part of that she attributed to her improved fitness, which enabled her to play 21 matches in seven weeks between Strasbourg and the end of Wimbledon and win 18 of them.
"It showed how much I improved physically," she said. "To be able to break all those barriers and to improve so much is surprising and exciting and now I know I can finish this season strong."
She also feels beloved in France for the first time. She left the country with her family when she was a teenager and moved to Switzerland, and had differences with the French Tennis Federation, rarely playing Fed Cup.
"It's really changed in France," she said. "I received really good press and everyone in the street recognized me, from the supermarket to the gas station.
"People said they were crying at how good my matches were. The way I was acting on the court this time was totally different. I was showing more my emotions and sharing with the crowd."
Bartoli said she would be happy to walk away from the game after her brilliant summer this year, but she has her eye on the U.S. Open where she has never really found her stride.
"This year I'm playing a smarter schedule and I will arrive fresher and be ready to fight."
(Editing by Ian Ransom)
