Hantuchova Defends a Title, Kerber Wins Her First

While the men off playing Davis Cup across 18 time zones from Japan to Western Canada, the women resumed tour play with one Premier and one International event.  Withdrawals were aplenty but in the end one veteran and one rising star found their way to the podium.

WTA Premier:  Paris, France
9) Angelique Kerber (GER) def. 2) Marion Bartoli (FRA) 7-6(3) 5-7 6-3


-Kerber wins first career WTA title, ranking will reach a record high #22, though she is still the 4th-ranked German
-Other QF:  1) Maria Sharapova (RUS), 6) Julia Goerges (GER), 7) Roberta Vinci (ITA), Yanina Wickmayer (BEL)-SF, Klara Zakopalova (CZE)-SF, Mona Barthel (GER)
-Other seeds:  3) Li (R1 ret. vs Pironkova), 4) Jankovic (w/d), 5) Lisicki (w/d), 8) Medina Garrigues (R1 l. to Parmentier)
-In all, 5 players withdrew or retired due to injury or illness
-Kvitova def. Clijsters in last year's final but neither played here this year, Clijsters would take #1 ranking for 1 week
-Wickmayer the only return quarterfinalist from last year.
-Two Americans won first round matches, McHale and Mattek-Sands, but the latter was in the SF last year.
-The QF another nice result for young German Barthel.

WTA International:  Pattaya City, Thailand

3) Daniela Hantuchova (SVK) 6-7(4) 6-3 6-3

-Hantuchova wins 5th career title, last '11 Pattaya City

-Other QF:  1) Vera Zvonareva (RUS), 7) Sorana Cirstea (ROU)-SF, 8) Vania King (USA), Sania Mirza (IND), Tamarine Tanasugarn (THA), Q) Su-Wei Hsieh (TPE)-SF

-Other seeds:  2) Cibulkova (R1 l. to Keothavong), 5) Zheng (R1 l. to Hsieh), 6) Voskoboeva (R1 ret. vs Tanasugarn)

-Hantuchova successfully defended last year's title
-Previous champ Zvonareva withdrew with hip injury, she has title to defend in Doha this week

-Zvonareva and Hantuchova the two repeat quarterfinalists from 2011
-Three retirements in this event.

Since the CAN/FRA tie is yet to begin day 3 action, I'll be recapping that tomorrow