Lisicki and Bartoli ready for Wimbledon final

A new Wimbledon champion will be crowned on Centre Court today (Saturday 6 July) as Sabine Lisicki and Marion Bartoli battle it out on a sultry summer's day in SW19.

The German Lisicki, the number 23 seed has been embraced by Wimbledon crowds after thrilling displays against the number one seed and odds-on title favourite, Serena Williams and fourth seed Agnieszka Radwanska in the semi-final. Her winning smile and powerful game appears to have captured the imagination of tennis fans and may make her the people's favourite today.

Germany has waited some time for a true successor to Steffi Graf - the last German to win, in 1999 - and will be hoping the 23-year-old Lisicki will cap an incredible fortnight with her first Grand Slam title.

For 28-year-old Marion Bartoli of France, the final represents a second opportunity to win at Wimbledon which would also be her first Grand Slam title. She lost to Venus Williams in 2007 but has the game and the experience to put that behind her and win this time if she can nullify Lisicki's big hitting game.

Bartoli, seeded 15, has been a surprise success this year having arrived in London after struggles with injury and illness and little form. An impressive semi-final demolition of Belgian Kirsten Flipkens and relatively untroubled route to the final should mean she retains the energy and confidence to succeed.

It is an intriguing final. Bartoli or Lisicki? France or Germany? Either way we'll have a new women's champion later today.