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Sharapova crashes out in Paris

Maria Sharapova was stunned by Angelique Kerber in the quarter-finals of the Open GDF Suez © PA Photos

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World No. 3 Maria Sharapova was stunned by ninth seed Angelique Kerber on Friday as she crashed out of the Open GDF Suez at the quarter-final stage.

Sharapova, favourite to lift the title in Paris, was given a lesson in clinical tennis by Kerber, who converted all five of her break chances in order to set up victory. After 90 minutes on court Kerber clinched a 6-4 6-4 triumph, which blows the tournament wide open.

The ability to raise the intensity on big points truly was the difference between the two players, with Sharapova by no means outmatched by her rival. Indeed the Russian created 11 break points to Kerber's five, but could only take three of them.

Sixth seed Julia Goerges was also the victim of a shock result as she was beaten 3-6 7-5 6-1 by Klara Zakopalova. Goerges fired down eight aces in the contest but offered up 13 break opportunities, four of which were taken in a big win for Zakopalova.

Also through to the last four are Marion Bartoli and Yanina Wickmayer, who beat Roberta Vinci and Mona Barthel respectively.

Meanwhile, at the PTT Pataya Open in Thailand, top seed Vera Zvonareva was forced to retire from her quarter-final with a hip injury.

The Russian, a two-time winner of the event, won the opening set but struggled with her movement as Sorana Cirstea levelled proceedings. With the match in the balance at 2-2 in the decider, Zvonareva offered her hand. Next up for Cirstea is another Russian in the shape of Maria Kirilenko, who proved too strong for home favourite Tamarine Tanasugarn, claiming a 7-6(2) 6-1 victory.

Third seed Daniela Hantuchova is the highest-ranked player left in the tournament after her 7-6(7) 6-4 win over Vania King. And the Slovakian will fancy her chances of reaching the final with qualifier Hsieh Su-Wei claiming another scalp in the shape of Sania Mirza.

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