After surviving a set and 4-1 down in the second set, and then 5-2 down in the third set of her Paris quarterfinal against Roberta Vinci, Marion Bartoli overcame her semifinal challenge against Klara Zakopalova, coming back from 4-2 down in the first set to win the set in the tiebreak, before bageling her opponent in the second set and winning the match 7-6(3) 6-0. Bartoli is now in her first ever final at the Open GDF Suez and obviously it means a lot to her to go that far at her home tournament.

Angelique Kerber, who ousted top seed Maria Sharapova in the quarterfinals, will be Bartoli's opponent in the title match, having defeated Yanina Wickmayer 6-7(2) 6-3 6-4. Note that Kerber has played four tournaments this season and this is her third semifinal in 2012, after Auckland and Hobart. (photo: Lawntennisnews)

Top seed Maria Sharapova was defeated by Angelique Kerber 6-4 6-4 in the quarterfinals of the Open GDF Suez in Paris, but her rise to No.2 in the WTA rankings is guaranteed for Monday.

Only three of eleven break points converted and 33 unforced errors ensured Sharapova's loss to the left-handed and aggressive Kerber who wasn't as intimidated by the three-time Grand Slam champion as in their recent and only previous meeting at the Australian Open.  The 27th-ranked Kerber had a perfect conversion rate on her five break points, coming back from 4-2 down in the first set and from 3-1 down in the second.

Kerber scored her first Top 5 win and her victory is even bigger given the fact that Sharapova played the Australian Open final only two weeks ago.

Next tournament on Sharapova's calendar is the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, which starts on March 7. Before that, on March 5, Sharapova will play an exhibition match with Caroline Wozniacki in New York, as part of the BNP Paribas Showdown. (photo: Lawntennisnews)

Maria Sharapova does not enjoy the freezing European weather, although the smiling face next to a Paris Christmas tree still surviving in February could make your believe otherwise. However, the extreme cold didn't stop the Open GDF Suez top seed to beat world No.44 Chanelle Scheepers 6-3 6-1 and move into the quarterfinals after a first round bye. And that's not all, the victory has assured Sharapova's rise to No.2 in the WTA rankings as of Monday, February 13.

I may be hard to believe, but the experienced Russian is playing the Paris tournament for the first time. It's not that she was skipping it on purpose, but complicated scheduling, injuries and sickness got in the way on so many occasions.

Sharapova's quarterfinal will be on Friday and she will play either ninth seed Angelique Kerber or Monica Niculescu. Against Kerber Sharapova had a 6-1 6-2 victory at the recent Australian Open and it's been their one and only encounter, while she has never faced Monica Niculescu. (photo via Sharapova's Facebook page)

Tomorrow-to-be-number-one Kim Clijsters is vulnerable just like every other player on the WTA Tour, and Petra Kvitova proved that by beating the Belgian 6-4 6-3 in the final of the Open GDF Suez in Paris.

The Paris title is Kvitova’s third, but it is her biggest one and of course, her biggest match victory so far. However, the fourth-seeded Kvitova had closer matches earlier in the tournament – the left-handed Czech barely made it to the quarterfinals, having been a match point down against Barbora Zahlavova Strycova (final score: 6-4 6-7(6) 7-6(9)), and then Yanina Wickmayer had a 5-3 lead in the third set before Kvitova reached the semis.

Clijsters will enjoy her regained No.1 ranking anyway, for the first time since 2006, while world No.18 Kvitova can enjoy her great victory and already the second title this season, after the Brisbane International. (via WTA Tour)

Kim Clijsters' second career has just reached brand new heights. As if it wasn't high enough with three Grand Slam titles – US Open 2009 and 2010, and the 2011 Australian Open! By defeating Jelena Dokic in a mighty fashion, Clijsters will take Wozniacki off her pedestal, before the young Dane managed to win a Grand Slam, and reclaim her No.1 ranking when the WTA Tour releases the new list on Monday.

The first to take charge in the Open GDF Suez quarterfinal in Paris was actually the former world No.4 Dokic, now ranked 120th and a qualifier at the tournament. The Australian established a 3-0 with one break of top-seeded Clijsters' serve. However, since that moment, Clijsters won 12 straight games, defeating Dokic 6-3 6-0!

Clijsters is at the moment the most solid player on the Tour and the No.1 ranking is just a natural consequence of her current dominance. Well deserved, Kim! Congratulations!

In the Paris semifinals, Clijsters will play either Dominika Cibulkova or Kaia Kanepi. (photo via WTA Tour)

Vera Zvonareva is now just two steps away from her third successive title at the PTT Pattaya Open in Thailand. The top-seeded Russian beat world No.40 Peng Shuai 6-4 4-6 6-4 and earned her 13th consecutive win at the tournament. The victory didn’t come without a challenge, as Peng had two break points to lead 5-3 in the third set. Zvonareva’s next obstacle is Daniela Hantuchova.

Second seed Ana Ivanovic lost in today’s Pattaya quarterfinals. The Serb was defeated by Roberta Vinci, the first time in their five meetings. Final score: 7-5 6-3.

A mention of Galina Voskoboeva’s Pattaya campaign I owe to our reader and contributor John Bolan. Voskoboeva lost in the quarterfinals to Sara Errani, 2-6 6-3 6-2. But this defeated came only after she won two qualifying matches, including one against Sania Mirza (Voskoboeva's first match back from almost a year long injury), and her second-round match against third seed Maria Kirilenko.

Elsewhere, that is in Paris, another tournament is in full swing. As we’re awaiting the spectacle of the day – Kim Clijsters vs. Jelena Dokic, which could earn Kim No.1 ranking – let’s mention a great match that happened between Andrea Petkovic and Bethanie Mattek Sands. Petkovic was in charge during the beginning of the match, her service games were strong and she earned a set point. However, Mattek Sands miraculously got back into the match, and in a tiebreak won that first set, leaving Petkovic in utmost frustration.  Even though the German won the second set, Mattek Sands repeated the history and advanced to the semifinals, 7-6(4) 2-6 6-3. (photo: © Neal Trousdale)

Two Russians took the two tournaments that finished this weekend: Elena Dementieva won the Open GDF SUEZ in her ninth attempt, and Vera Zvanareva successfully defended her PTT Pattaya Open title.

Dementieva, top-seed and last year’s finalist in Paris, recovered from losing the first set to beat Czech Lucie Safarova 6-7(5) 6-1 6-4 and finally win the indoor event in the capital of France.

"I have been trying to win this tournament for so many years – it's been one of the most difficult wins of my career and I am so happy," said Dementieva after winning her second title of 2010.

Meanwhile, in the other part of the world, Vera Zvonareva won the PTT Pattaya Open for the second successive year and thus became the first player to do such a thing in the 19-year history of the tournament. Top-seeded Zvonareva beat home favorite Tamarine Tanasugarn 6-4 6-4 in the final and collected her 10th career title. (photos via Sony Ericsson WTA Tour)

The organizers of the Open GDF SUEZ paid tribute to Amelie Mauresmo, former world No.1 and two-time Grand Slam champion who retired in December 2009. The very touching ceremony took place on Center Court of the Pierre de Coubertin Stadium.

Amelie was joined by fellow Frenchwomen Julie Coin, Alize Cornet, Nathalie Dechy and Tatiana Golovin (I hope people still remember her), as well as Patty Schnyder, Francesca Schiavone, Tathiana Garbin, Alisa Kleybanova, Flavia Pennetta and Elena Dementieva.  The widescreen was showing the highlights of Amelie’s career:  her greatest victories and souvenirs from her friendships with coaches Loïc Courteau and Hugo Lecoq.

The 30-year-old, whose last career title came at the Open GDF SUEZ, expressed her love of the tournament:

I really have a special relationship with this tournament and this court. It is very moving to have to say goodbye here. I'm going to miss you all. I have one thing to say, 'Thank you!' It may be simple, and it may be brief, but all the greatest moments in my career have happened here.

Here's a short video from the ceremony:

Reminder: Check out our yesterday's post about Amelie's plans in her new life. (sources: Down the Line, Open GDF SUEZ; photos by Stephane Martinache)

World No.1 Serena Williams has pulled out of next week’s Open GDF SUEZ in Paris, citing a leg injury she sustained on the way to winning her fifth Australian Open title last month.

The 28-year-old American has won the Paris tournament twice, in 1999 and 2003, both times beating France’s Amelie Mauresmo in the final. By the way, retired Mauresmo will be honored Wednesday night in a ceremony at the Open GDF SUEZ which she won last year.

With Williams withdrawing Russia's Elena Dementieva has become the highest-ranked player in the tournament. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

Amelie Mauresmo only had one win over a Top 10 ranked opponent in 2007 and 2008, but today she beat one of the most successful players this season Elena Dementieva 7-6(7) 2-6 6-4 and scored her fourth Top 10 victory in 2009.

Mauresmo, who advanced to the finals by defeating world No.10 Agnieszka Radwanska in the quarterfinals and world No.3 Jelena Jankovic in the semifinals, clinched her third title at Paris, having already won the tournament in 2001 and 2006.

"I have had hard times. I did some soul searching by the end of last year and there is a new dynamic, a good preparation during the winter," said eight-seeded Mauresmo.

Falling to the Frenchwoman, third-seeded Dementieva failed to score her 500th career win. (photo via Open GDF SUEZ)