Paris Open SDF Suez (Premier)

Information

Location: Paris, France
Date: 4th Feb - 12th Feb
Court Type: Indoor Hardcourts
Tournament Type: Premier
2012 Winner: TBD
2011 Winner: Petra Kvitova
Official Website: http://www.opengdfsuez.com/

THE PLAYERS

Seeds
1.Maria Sharapova (3) (Russia)
2.Marion Bartoli (7) (France)
3.Li Na (9) (China) ROUND ONE
4.Jelena Jankovic (13) (Serbia) WITHDREW
5.Sabine Lisicki (14) (Germany) WITHDREW
6.Julia Gorges (21) (Germany)
7.Roberta Vinci (23) (Italy)
8.Anabel M Garrigues (24) (Spain) ROUND ONE
9.Angelina Kerber (27) (Germany)

First 2 Seeds receive BYE to second round.

Others
Kaia Kanepi (25) (Estonia) WITHDREW
Lucie Safarova (28) (Czech Republic) FIRST ROUND
Yania Wickmayer (29) (Germany)
Petra Cetkovska (31) (Czech Republic) SECOND ROUND
Monica Niculscu (32) (Romania)
Polana Hercog (36) (Slovakia) FIRST ROUND
Shahar Pe'er (37) (Israel) FIRST ROUND
Christina McHale (38) (USA)
Jarmila Gajdosova (42) (Australia) FIRST ROUND
Chanelle Scheepers (45) (South Africa) SEOND ROUND
Tsvetana Pironkova (50) (Bulgaria)
Barbora Z Strykova (53) (Czech Republic) FIRST ROUND
Klara Zakoplava (51) (Czech Republic)
Simona Halep (60) (Romania) FIRST ROUND
Petra Martic (66) (Croatia)

Qualifiers
1.Mona Barthel (43) (Germany)
2.Bethannie Mattek Sands (68) (USA)
3.Greta Arn (76) (Hungary) FIRST ROUND
4.Kristina Barrois (Germany)(101) FIRST ROUND

Wildcards
Pauline Parmentier (62) (France)
Alize Cornet (115) (France) FIRST ROUND

Lucky Losers
1.Alberta Brianti (Italy) FIRST ROUND
2.Varvara Lepchenko (USA) FIRST ROUND
3.Jilly Craybas (USA) FIRST ROUND

So far Maria Sharapova and Julia Gorges through to quaterfinals.

PARIS, France - She faced a lot of resistance but Angelique Kerber finally overcame Marion Bartoli in a two-hour, 39-minute final at the Open GDF SUEZ on Sunday, emerging with her first WTA title and becoming Germany's first champion there since a certain 22-time Grand Slam champion won it in 1995.

Kerber, who was elevated to the No.9 seed following fellow German Sabine Lisicki's late withdrawal from the tournament due to illness, toughed out some tricky early rounds over Lucie Safarova and Monica Niculescu then had a career breakthrough in the quarterfinals, upsetting No.1 seed Maria Sharapova in straight sets, 64 64 - it was the first Top 10 win of her career.

"I knew before the match I had nothing to lose. It's amazing," a jubilant Kerber said afterwards. "I played my first match against Maria in Australia and I think I was a little bit shocked to play her, because she's such a great player."

Sharapova was equally complimentary. "Angelique is someone who has been playing really good tennis the last six months, and had a great result at the US Open. She's really starting to break through. And being a lefty gives her a bit of an edge - she has a great game for it, but she's also someone who's very aggressive, stays low, is very strong and runs well. She has many pluses."