Afternoon folks! After six rounds of intrigue and shock, it's time for the battle for the Venus Rosewater Dish.

It's truly astounding that neither Serena Williams or Maria Sharapova is here today. Both women entered this tournament as clear favourites to reach the final. Serena, especially, was on a 30-something winning streak until her challenge was ended by Germany's Lisicki in the fourth round. It's only right that Serena's conquerer is here today.

Frenchwoman Bartoli enters this match having not lost a set all tournament. However, she hasn't faced an opponent in the top 10 because of shocks and retirements around her.

WEATHER WATCH: As promised, a heatwave has hit the UK and the sun is shining bright in SW19. There'll be no need for the roof today.

Lisicki is sure to be the crowd favourite today. She's developed into an All England sweetheart over the last few years, knocking out the reigning French Open champion in her last four visits to Wimbledon!

As well as being the crowd favourite, 23-year-old Lisicki is the bookies' favourite too. She's around 8/15 to claim the title, with Bartoli, 28, able to back at about 7/4.

PREDICTION! I'm going to agree with the bookies and side with Sabine today. If she plays to her full capability then she should have too much for Bartoli. However, as was evident in her semi-final against Agnieszka Radwanska, she can have dips in concentration and Bartoli is exactly the type of character who could capitalise. I expect Lisicki to come through in straight sets but they will both be close.

As I say below, Lisicki only just came through her semi against fourth seed Radwanska. Bartoli's path to the final contained less drama as she ended Kirsten Flipkens's dream run at the tournament with a battering 6-1 6-2 win.

H2H: The last time these two met was at Wimbledon two years ago. That day it was Lisicki who was victorious by two sets to one. In fact, Lisicki has won three games in a row against Bartoli.

Right on 2pm, both women emerge with big bouquets of flowers. It's just lovely to see the famous old court bathed in sunlight. Just as it should be in July. They of course receive a warm reception from the lucky ones inside.

Bartoli wins the coin toss and elects to serve, with Lisicki opting to swap ends.

In terms of seedings, Bartoli is ranked higher in the world so is seeded higher than her opponent. Bartoli comes in as 15th seed while Lisicki is down in 23rd. You have to say that Lisicki's seeding isn't a good reputation though because of just how well she's done at this particular event in the last five years.

"Time," calls today's chair umpire Eva Asderaki from Greece. We're just about ready to go.

The opening point is won by Bartoli in odd fashion as Lisicki fails to get a clean racket on the Frenchwoman's serve.

There's a few parts of Bartoli's game that are peculiar. She has a two-handed shot off both wings and also serves basically two first serves at the same speed instead of having a slower second one.

Lisicki displays her bullish groundstrokes by hitting a clean forehand return winner to move 15-30 ahead.

TWO BREAK POINTS LISICKI...

Bartoli's booming backhand saves the first.

And the second! She got a fortunate net cord to unbalance Lisicki before putting away the German's overhit drop shot.

Bartoli then double faults though and that could be costly as it hands Lisicki another break point.

BREAK! Another double fault! Two in a row from Bartoli gifts the opening break of the match to Lisicki.

Lisicki opens her first service game with a clean winner but then duffs a drop shot before Bartoli returns deep and the German can't handle it. 15-30.

TWO BREAK POINTS BARTOLI...

Lisicki's first ace saves the first.

BREAK BACK! Nervy start from both women it is then. Lisicki mirrors Bartoli in losing her serve with a double fault after an errant toss.

Lisicki's on top of the rally at 15-30 but shoots wildly long with a forehand to prevent her earning two more break points. 30-30.

Bartoli holds serve with a second serve ace down the middle. These early nerves are understandable as both women have a real shot at their first Grand Slam.

Can Lisicki now calm her nerves in a similar way?

It doesn't start well for the German as first she hits long after tracking down a Bartoli drop shot before dumping a simple forehand into the net.

Fantastic point! Lisicki displays wonderful defence but can't come through as Bartoli anticipates well at the net. TWO BREAK POINTS FOR MARION...

She fails to return Lisicki's kicky second serve on the first.

BREAK! She gets the second serve back this time though and Lisicki then nets her backhand. She's lost the last three games on the spin.

Phenomenal hitting from Bartoli to move 30-0 ahead. Lisicki threw everything she had at that but Bartoli's replies were simply too good.

Lisicki can't respond to being broken as Bartoli holds to love to consolidate.

Lisicki has two chances to finally grab a hold but she hits wide twice and is now under pressure at deuce.

Another poor backhand and it's BREAK POINT BARTOLI.

ACE!

Lisicki spurns another chance to break and now she has a fourth as she counters Bartoli's drop shot with a better one of her own.

She nets a backhand and then DOUBLE FAULTS and Bartoli has another to chance to break.

DOUBLE BREAK! Lisicki's forehand drifts long and that's a double break for Bartoli who will now serve for the first set.

Lisicki opens the seventh game with a loose mishit forehand and she's already up to 12 unforced. Bartoli has four.

THREE SET POINTS FOR BARTOLI...

SET! Another groundstroke into the net from Lisicki and that's a dream start for Bartoli. She takes the opening set in just half an hour.

The most worrying stat for Lisicki is that she's only won 36% of the points when she's got her first serve in. That's half of what she's been achieving throughout the tournament.

Lisicki went for a bathroom break during the change of ends there and she returns looking like she may have had a little cry.

It looks to have done the trick though as she opens with an ACE.

That's followed by a sublime up-the-line backhand. As I said, the German will have started this match as the crowd's favourite and her predicament at the moment means that they are rooting for her even more.

A hold to 15 to begin the set for Lisicki. That's her first game since the opening game of the match and just what the doctor ordered.

Bartoli delivers her first double since that pair in the opening game and we're back to 30-30.

And now Lisicki digs deep to prevent Bartoli holding. Deuce.

BREAK POINT LISICKI...

She frames a forehand but has another chance two points later. Again she can't take it as this time a backhand loops wide.

Bartoli saves a third break point with some confident hitting, putting away the point with a backhand drive-volley. Deuce again.

Break point number four...

Fabulous depth and accuracy from Bartoli off both wings to save it again!

What a huge hold that could be for Marion Bartoli! She saves four break points before clinching the second game of the second set.

Brilliant rally to start the next game as both women are pushed to the limit before Bartoli goes for broke up the line. The line judge calls it in but for me that's out and BBC Sport's Hawk-Eye confirms that it was wide. Sabine should have challenged.

BREAK! Dear oh dear, after failing to challenge that ball Lisicki drops serve. A double fault moved Bartoli 0-40 ahead before an ace saved the first. She can't stop Bartoli on the next though as her drop shot is easily reached by the 15th seed who then puts away an easy volley presented to her.

Lisicki with a big backhand crosscourt and she has pulled it back to 30-30 on Bartoli's serve as she looks to break back.

Bartoli's composed volley, followed by an unreturned serve sees her consolidate the break.

This service game is now a huge one for Lisicki. If she loses it, then realistically that's the match. Win it and she can go and try to break Bartoli again.

Lisicki doesn't look like a woman who can win at the moment. Her beaming smile is gone and she's now muttering to himself.

Lisicki's fifth ACE spurs a clench of the first and she now has a game point.

UH OH! A fourth double fault soon follows and we're back at deuce.

The crowd crescendo to a huge cheer for Lisicki and she's clearly struggling to cope with her performance emotionally here. Come on girl!

A nervy 72mph second serve at break point Bartoli works for Lisicki as Bartoli fails to put her forehand in.

This game is turning into the crucial point of the match. Lisicki wastes another chance to hold and if Bartoli breaks surely that's that.

DOUBLE BREAK! Dear me, what a nightmare afternoon it's turning out to be for Lisicki. She's broken again and Bartoli won't believe her luck. Yes, she's handled the pressure better but hasn't had to come up against much today.

A hold to love for Bartoli. She's now one game away from the match. The crowd tries to lift Lisicki as she prepares to serve but she must know that she has lost this.

Lisicki is only 23 though and she'll be back next year, for sure.

Lisicki misses an easy forehand and it's TWO CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS FOR BARTOLI...

Lisicki saves the first.

And the second! Two first serves get her out of trouble and Centre Court's hopes of a bit more tennis are ignited.

CHAMPIONSHIP POINT NUMBER THREE...

Bartoli nets, but surely this is just prolonging the inevitable.

"Come on!" says Lisicki as she delivers an ace, forcing Bartoli to serve it out.

It's BREAK POINT Lisicki as Bartoli nets a forehand.

ONE BREAK BACK! An extended rally ends with Bartoli hitting long and that's one break back for Lisicki. She couldn't do it, could she?

Superb off-backhand moves her to 30-15 on serve.

And then a pinpoint forehand down the line to move to two game points.

She wraps up the game with her third winner on the trot. Huge pressure now on Bartoli to hold her nerve and serve it out. Can she do it?

Brilliant from Bartoli as she survives some heavy Lisicki groundstrokes on the opening point before angling a forehand out of the German's reach.

THREE CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS FOR MARION BARTOLI...

It's a first Grand Slam title for the Frenchwoman and what a place to do it. She will soon lift the Venus Rosewater Dish.

You have to congratulate her tactical nous today. She didn't go for too much and simply allowed Lisicki to get overawed by the occasion. She sprints up to her box and gets quite a stern hug from her father, who has been her inspiration throughout life.

Lisicki tries to muster a trademark smile in her chair but she's absolutely devastated. I'd be amazed if she doesn't break down in her runner-up speech.

Thanks for joining Sports Mole this afternoon for what turned out to be a much shorter final than expected. Just one hour and 20 minutes it took for Bartoli to claim her maiden Slam. Make sure you stick around on SM for plenty of reaction throughout the day and be sure to come back tomorrow for the men's final between Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray. Commentary for that one will be live from 1.30pm. See you then.