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)