Top seed Maria Sharapova defeated Germany’s Julia Georges 7-6(2) 6-1 in the delayed quarterfinal of the Internationaux de Strasbourg this morning, and then beat three-time Strasbourg champion Anabel Medina Garrigues in the afternoon to advance to the final. Sharapova scored a 4-6 6-2 6-2 victory over Medina Garrigues and will face Germany’s Kristina Barrois in the final. The world No.77 Barrois, who defeated Vania King 2-6 6-2 7-6(6) in the semifinals, will play her first WTA final and will have a chance to become the first German winner of the tournament since Steffi Graf in 1997.
At the Polsat Warsaw Open, Romania’s Alexandra Dulgheru spoiled the hopes of an all-Chinese final by defeating Li Na, at No.3 the highest seed left in the draw. The 32nd-ranked Dulgheru is now 12-0 at the Polsat Warsaw Open and is looking for her second title at the tournament (which would also be her second career WTA title). To reach that goal Dulgheru will have to get past fifth seed Zheng Jie of China, who put an end to Greta Arn‘s successful week in the second semifinal with a 6-4 7-5 win. If Zheng wins the Polsat Warsaw Open, she will become the first Chinese to win a Premier-level title. (photo: Stephane Martinache)
