Bartoli vs Lisicki, Wimbledon 2013 Tennis Championship|Finals

On Saturday, Wimbledon will set a second time record in the 45-year Open era that two women who have never won a Grand Slam trophy will play for the championship at the grass-court tournament. Serena-slayer Sabine Lisicki of Germany will face Marion Bartoli of France in her first Grand Slam appearance at the Wimbledon 2013 Women's Tennis championship.

The 28-year-old Marion Bartoli secured a spot in Wimbledon 2013 Tennis Championship upon beating Kirsten Flipkens,6-1,6-2. Her performance against Flipkens, in what the BBC dubbed “The ‘Who’d Have Thought It?’ Semifinal,” was her most impressive display of tennis yet. She also halted the Wimbledon campaign of South Florida’s Sloane Stephens in the quarterfinals. Bartoli reached Saturday’s final without dropping a set. For Marion, Wimbledon championship represents a hard-earned second shot at a first Grand Slam title.

“I’m able to hit the ball harder, I’m moving faster — I do just everything a bit better than what I was doing six years ago,” Bartoli said afterward.

On the other hand, Sabine Lisicki prevailed against Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland, 6-4, 2-6, 9-7. Lisicki upset the top-seeded Williams the round prior. For Lisicki, 23, who reached Wimbledon’s 2011 semifinals as a wild card, being one victory away from Wimbledon’s title made her erupt in tears, laughter and an enormous smile once she picked herself up from the frayed Centre Court grass. Lisicki’s perpetual smile, unabashed love of Wimbledon and delight in signing autographs has made her the darling of British fans these last two weeks.

“It’s so nice to have the support of the crowd,” Lisicki said, wearing a pink T-shirt decorated with a glitter Union Jack, during her post-match press conference. “There is no better feeling in the world than to have so much support on that beautiful Centre Court.”

As the tournament’s No. 15 and 23rd seeds, neither was expected to get this far but both tennis players acknowledged that reaching Wimbledon 2013 finals is already a realization of a dream.

UPDATE: Marion Bartoli won her first grand slam title with a 6-1, 6-4 win over Sabine Lisicki, who was overwhelmed by her nerves via guardian.co.uk