TENNIS in DEPTH.

Andrea Petkovic won her second career WTA title and booked a new career-high ranking on the eve of the French Open, beating French No.1 Marion Bartoli via retirement in the final of the Internationaux de Strasbourg. For the first time in nine years the Top 2 seeds made it to the final of the International-level tournament, and No.1 seed Bartoli did it in lightning-fast fashion, losing just 11 games in three matches; Petkovic, the No.2 seed, had straight set wins in her first three matches but needed almost three hours to get past No.6 seed Daniela Hantuchova in the semifinals, 6-4 in the third. With a smoother path to the final, Bartoli looked fresher at the start of the title match, winning the first two games to lead 2-0. But the momentum began shifting and soon Petkovic won the first set and the first game of the second set; up 64 10, the German won the title when Bartoli retired with a left thigh injury.

Caroline Wozniacki warmed up for the French Open in style by winning the inaugural Brussels Open with a three-set win over Peng Shuai. After losing the first set 2-6, the Dane hit back to win the next two 6-3 6-3 and pick up a fourth title of the year. It was her first clay-court title, though, giving her the perfect preparation for Roland Garros. ”It’s my fourth title of the season. I was pleased with the way I played and fought,” Wozniacki said. ”Now I’m looking forward to Roland Garros – I think I play on Monday, but I’ll be ready.”

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