BRUSSELS, Belgium - It has been a strong start to the year from Marion Bartoli, highlighted by reaching the finals of her home tournament in Paris in February and snapping Victoria Azarenka's 26-0 season in the quarterfinals of Miami in March. With her home Grand Slam just days away, the Frenchwoman gets her final clay court preparations at the Premier-level Brussels Open.

The French No.1 met the press before the tournament - here's a taste...

On how she's feeling coming into this week...
"I feel great. I've been recovering from being sick. I had an illness in Madrid and Rome. I'm feeling a lot better physically now, and I have a lot more energy. I've been practicing well and I'm looking forward to starting my tournament here."

On the waffles and chocolate at the tournament...
"The rumors are true, I've had some! It's hard, they bake them here in the club, and when you see everyone having one you're like, 'I have to taste it!' I'm also a huge fan of sweets and anything with chocolate, so it's hard to resist. But when I had it it was only after a very hard practice! It was kind of my reward."

On her semifinal run at the French Open last year...
"Last year I really felt everything start to click together in Strasbourg. The main change for me was my happiness on the court and the way I was feeling."

On this year's French Open...
"I really hope to go back to the French Open this year with the same mentality on the court - having fun, really embracing the situation, and using the crowd to my advantage. I'm very, very motivated to do the same this year, and I also had some great times in Paris in February. It will be nice to see the crowd again."