Paris, France – French crowd favorite Marion Bartoli and German Angelique Kerber won semifinal matches Saturday at the Open GDF Suez.
The second-seeded Bartoli defeated Klara Zakopalova of the Czech Republic 7-6 (7-3), 6-0 to reach her first title match since winning in Osaka last October.
Bartoli is trying to become the first Frenchwoman to title here since former world No. 1 Amelie Mauresmo turned the trick in 2009.
The 27-year-old Bartoli holds a 7-9 career record in finals.
The ninth-seeded Kerber took down Belgian Yanina Wickmayer 6-7 (2-7), 6-3, 6-4 to become the first German to reach the final here since Anke Huber in 2001. The last German to win the title was Steffi Graf in 1995.
The 24-year-old Kerber, who upset top-seeded Maria Sharapova in Friday's quarterfinal action, lost in her only previous title match (2010 Bogota).
Bartoli holds a 3-1 all-time series lead over Kerber.
The winner of this $637,000 event will pocket $107,000.
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