MARIA SHARAPOVA SIGNS UP FOR THE 20th OPEN GDF SUEZ

Written by: Staff on 6th December 2011

MARIA SHARAPOVA SIGNS UP FOR THE 20th OPEN GDF SUEZ |

Amélie Mauresmo has done it again! After getting French no.1 Marion Bartoli to sign up for the Open GDF SUEZ, which is celebrating its 20th anniversary from 4 – 12 February 2012 at the Stade Coubertin in Paris, the tournament co‐director has now brought on board none other than Maria Sharapova, former world no.1 and undoubtedly THE star of women’s tennis.

Sharapova’s trophy cabinet speaks for itself. She has won 24 titles, including three Grand Slams, and became world no.1 at the tender age of 18. And yet Paris has rarely been a happy hunting ground for the statuesque Russian, who has never gone beyond the semi‐finals at Roland Garros despite winning the other three Majors (the Australian Open, Wimbledon and the US Open). And up until now, she has never played at the Open GDF Suez. All that is set to change in February 2012 however, with Sharapova ready to wow the crowds at the Stade Coubertin.

The 24‐year‐old Siberian, who finished the 2011 season at no.4 in the WTA rankings, will also be hoping to put on a good show for the tournament co‐director Amélie Mauresmo, herself a former world no.1. Maria and Amélie crossed swords four times before the Frenchwoman hung up her racquet, and Sharapova only got the better of her on one occasion.

The Open GDF SUEZ is one of the highlights of the women’s tennis calendar: it is France’s premier women’s tennis event and one of the top 20 women’s tournaments in the world. Throughout its history, all of the top players have taken part, and it has also been an excellent showcase for women’s tennis in France, with generation after generation gaining valuable experience and even going on to win the tournament on a number of occasions, thanks to Julie Halard‐Decugis (who was the first French winner in 1996), Mary Pierce (1998) and of course Amélie Mauresmo herself who notched a hat‐trick of wins (2009, 2006 and 2001) over the space of 13 years.

Topics: Maria Sharapova, Open GDF SUEZ