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Kerber claims maiden WTA title

Angelique Kerber clinched her maiden WTA title when she beat home favourite Marion Bartoli in Sunday’s final of the Open GDF SUEZ.

Kerber, who overcame Maria Sharapova on her way to the finals, came out strong, winning the opening set to 58-minute as she took the tie-break 7-3.

Bartoli, though, was equally determined to claim her first title on home soil and gave the partisan crown plenty to cheer about as she levelled the score by winning five straight games.

However, the Frenchwoman appeared to have used up all her reserves and Kerber raced to a 4-0 lead before Bartoli pulled it back.

But it was too little too late for the home crowd favourite and Kerber claimed her first WTA title with a 7-6 (3) 5-7 6-3 victory.

“I got a little bit nervous at 5-2 in the second set, but she was playing very well from that moment too,” Kerber told the official WTA title.

“I was trying really hard to get it back in the third set and I’m very happy I did. I had nothing to lose today - she was the favorite and I just kept fighting on every point, and it worked.”

She added: “This win is unbelievable for me. I will enjoy it for sure over the next days. And I believe in myself more. I know I can play with the top players.”

As for Bartoli, she conceded that the better player won.

“I gave everything I had and Angelique did the same,” she said. “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.”