KEY POINTS:
Marion Bartoli will be in a new position this week when she sets out to defend her ASB Classic title.
The 22-year-old world No 17 made her breakthrough in January this year when she won in Auckland, defeating the feisty Russian, Vera Zvonareva.
It was her first title
on the WTA Tour and a victory that kick-started her season because it filled her with confidence and a belief that she was good enough to win more.
So it proved. Bartoli, a French native who lives in the picturesque Swiss city of Geneva, then went on to win in Japan and Quebec City.
She says those titles might never have come had she not nailed the ASB Classic.
"A lot of players play for a very long time and they never win a title," she said. "You have to play really good, consistent tennis to win a tournament and I got a lot of confidence when I won in Auckland and went on to win three titles in the same year.
"This is something I have never done - defend a title.
"I really want to be in the top 20 before the Australian Open and I really want to get some games behind me, too.
"I would like at least to make the semifinals here again and then maybe make the third round of the Australian Open. I would be happy with that."
In her three previous visits to Auckland, she has done no worse than a semifinal place. She clearly likes the tournament and feels comfortable in Auckland.
She also benefits from the fact that her father travels with her filling the roles of coach, mentor, doctor and in her words, "he is my absolute everything".
When she won earlier this year she shook Zvonareva's hand and then ran into the stands to celebrate with her father.
It was an emotional moment and the obvious bond between father and daughter allows her to reduce the homesickness that all players on the tour feel, particularly at this time of year.
"It is hard being away from home and missing Christmas and New Year with the family," says Bartoli. "You have to leave Europe early to get acclimatised, but you know that you have 10 years when life will be like this.
"This is your job and you have to accept it.
"There will be plenty of opportunity later in life to have Christmas with the family."
When that day comes, she would dearly love to be able to bore them all with stories about how she won back-to-back titles in Auckland.
