Catching Up With... Marion Bartoli

© Getty ImagesMarion Bartoli says she'd like to interview David Ferrer.

Seventh seed Marion Bartoli equaled her best Miami performance Wednesday evening with a 6-3, 6-3 win over top-ranked Victoria Azarenka in the Sony Ericsson Open quarter-finals, handing the Australian Open champion her first loss in 27 matches this year.

SonyEricssonOpen.com caught up with the Frenchwoman to talk about her passion for art and the player she’d interview if she was a tennis reporter.

Now that you’ve secured your third win against a World No. 1, is Miami one of your favorite cities if it wasn’t already?
I would say so! I’ve been playing some great tennis here in Key Biscayne. I won the Orange Bowl when I was 15, so I have some wonderful memories on the Stadium Court. I’m so happy I was able to play so well tonight.

How are your cats doing? Would you consider yourself a cat person?
I’m an animal person overall. I love my cats and I’m very happy when I’m able to be home and be around for them.

So who takes care of them when you’re away?
I take them to a place where you can leave your pets for a period of time.

Being an all-court player, of the four surfaces, which suits your game the best?
Definitely grass.

One of your off-court hobbies is painting. How did you get involved with this passion? And which artist are you inspired by most?
I’ve always been an artistic person. I love to bring my paints when I’m on the road. But sometimes it’s not easy to carry them. It’s a great way for me to relieve stress, painting for three or four hours at a time. It helps me relax. My favorite artist is Van Gogh. I love to look at his work. And also Monet.

When was the last time you went to the movies?
It was in February and I went to two movies in a row. One was Intouchables, which set a record for the box office. The second was La vérité si je mens! 3.

If you were a tennis journalist and had the option of interviewing the player of your choice, who would you select and why?
I’d love to interview David Ferrer. I love the way he acts on the court. I think he’s a great sports person. The way he is always competing and giving his best is a true inspiration.