OPEN GDF SUEZ – Final Update 2012

Written by: Staff on 12th February 2012

OPEN GDF SUEZ - Final Update 2012

Angelique Kerber of Germany hits a return in her women's third round match against Maria Sharapova of Russia at the Australian Open Grand Slam tennis tournament in Melbourne, Australia, 21 January 2012. EPA/HOW HWEE YOUNG |

OPEN GDF SUEZ

Paris, France

February 6-12, 2012

$637,000/Premier

Hard/Indoors

Results – Sunday, February 12, 2012

Singles – Final

(9) Angelique Kerber (GER) d. (2) Marion Bartoli (FRA) 76(3) 57 63

Doubles – Final

(1) Huber/Raymond (USA/USA) d. Groenefeld/Martic (GER/CRO) 76(3) 61

Final Facts

– Kerber wins her first WTA title in her second WTA final (her first final came at the International-level event in Bogota in 2010).

– Bartoli falls to 7-10 in WTA finals.

– Kerber is the first German to win this title since Steffi Graf in 1995.

– Down 76(3) 52 in the final, Bartoli reeled off 13 straight points and eventually five straight games to extend the match to a third set.

– Kerber had lost three consecutive matches against Bartoli in straight sets before Sunday’s win.

– Kerber now has two career Top 10 victories, the first coming in the quarters here against No.3 Maria Sharapova and the second Sunday against No.7 Bartoli.

– Huber and Raymond win their fifth WTA doubles title together, the previous four coming in 2011. Huber now has 49 WTA doubles titles to her name, Raymond 75. One more will tie Raymond with Jana Novotna for sixth-most of the Open Era.

Final Quotes

Angelique Kerber: “It means a lot for me. I know that I believe in myself now and that I can play with the top players. It’s my first title and I will enjoy it for sure in the coming days.

“Yesterday was my seventh semi in a row. So I was very happy that I was in the final today. I had nothing to lose. She was the favorite. I just tried to play my game, focus on me and keep fighting every point, and it worked for me.”

Marion Bartoli: “I gave everything I had and Angelique did the same. You have to know when to accept defeat, though. It’s what sport is all about. I didn’t fluff my lines when it came to the final and I was simply beaten by a better player.”

Topics: Angelique Kerber, Marion Bartoli