Marion Bartoli explains why she and her father and coach Walter decided to split. Dr. Walter Bartoli is no longer traveling with his 28-year-old daughter, who played the first match of her career without him on Tuesday in Doha, beating Francesca Schiavone in straight sets.

“I felt maybe at this stage of my career, when I have so much experience, I could maybe try a little bit more my way or differently,” she told reporters.  “But I still love my dad. I still call him right after the match. …It’s a tough decision. I won’t say hard. I think tough. But, you know, at some point throughout my career I have been going through some tough decisions. That’s what helped me to be where I am right now…

“It's just I felt that maybe when I'm on the court just by myself I can take more decisions myself, maybe fight a little more just because I'm really trying my hardest myself. We will see where it takes me.”