France's Marion Bartoli reached the WTA Paris Open final for the first time in her career by beating Czech Klara Zakopalova 7-6 (7/3), 6-0 at Stade Pierre de Coubertin on Saturday. It is the first time in five attempts that 27-year-old Bartoli, the second seed, has reached the final in her home tournament.
She will face either German ninth seed Angelique Kerber, conqueror of Maria Sharapova on Friday, or unseeded Belgian Yanina Wickmayer in Sunday's final. Having fought back from a set and 1-4 down in her quarter-final win over Italian seventh seed Roberta Vinci the day before, Bartoli displayed similar reserves of determination to overcome Zakopalova. The Czech world number 51 led 5-2 and 40-15 in the first set but Bartoli saved two set points before storming back to win the set, with her opponent's resolve crumbling in a one-sided second set.
"I have troubled getting started!" said Bartoli afterwards. "But when I was able to save those set points and win the first set, things got much better afterwards. I'm really happy." Bartoli reached the semi-finals at last year's French Open at nearby Roland Garros and is gunning for an eighth career title, her last having coming in Osaka last October. She is also aiming to become the first French winner of the indoor tournament since Amelie Mauresmo in 2009.
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