Women’s Tennis–Open GDF Suez Paris

Written by: Staff on 7th February 2012

Women's Tennis--Open GDF Suez Paris |

Bethanie Mattek-Sands is defending semifinalist points, so she really wants to do well here. It would be hard to say that she did well in the qualifying final, but at least she survived, edging Jill Craybas 6-1 6-7 6-4. Mattek-Sands, the #2 seed, joins three of the top four qualifying seeds in the main draw; #1 Mona Barthel and #4 Greta Arn also made it. But #3 Alberta Brianti lost 6-0 6-3 to #6 Kristina Barrois.

If we have stories of players making the main draw, we also have two of players pulling out. Sabine Lisicki, who was to have been the #5 seed, had to withdraw with a virus; Kaia Kanepi pulled out with a sore shoulder. Lisicki, who was not defending anything, probably won’t see her ranking affected, but Kanepi, a semifinalist last year, will fall from #25 to #29 or lower.

The withdrawals came early enough to allow for seed promotion. Angelique Kerber is now the #9 seed, in Lisicki’s place. Two lucky losers — Brianti and Varvara Lepchenko — reach the main draw.

Doubles – First Round: Safarova/Zakopalova def. Koryttseva/Woehr 6-4 6-3

The doubles draw here contains the world’s top pair Huber/Raymond, but otherwise is pretty weak; we may see some surprises.

Topics: Open GDF SUEZ, Paris