Bartoli had experienced a gruelling time of it before yesterday's emotional win.
From the mirror.co.uk
It's 30-30 after a couple of gruelling points, then 40-30 after a cute dropshot.
From the telegraph.co.uk
I mean, protesting, protest marches, they can be very demanding, very gruelling.
From the guardian.co.uk
She was wearing a headscarf after losing her hair through gruelling chemotherapy.
From the telegraph.co.uk
However, Murray has looked forward to more gruelling first weeks in his career.
From the guardian.co.uk
Yet today Andy Persson is already on the second day of that gruelling schedule.
From the thisisbristol.co.uk
The Frenchman was eloquent in explaining the gruelling challenges of the Dakar.
From the nzherald.co.nz
Can a version for older children compensate for a gruelling management shakeup?
From the businessweek.com
Spielberg has often referred to the gruelling shoot as his professional crucible.
From the en.wikipedia.org
More examples
Arduous: characterized by effort to the point of exhaustion; especially physical effort; "worked their arduous way up the mining valley"; "a grueling campaign"; "hard labor"; "heavy work"; "heavy going"; "spent many laborious hours on the project"; "set a punishing pace"
So difficult or taxing as to make one exhausted; backbreaking