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PARIS (Reuters) - World number three Maria Sharapova slumped to a surprise 6-4 6-4 defeat against German Angelique Kerber in the Paris Open quarter-finals on Friday.
The top-seeded Russian broke first in both sets but failed to take her chances and was eventually eliminated when she hit a forehand out on match point.
"I played very well. I just played my game, that was my plan," ninth seed Kerber said in a courtside interview after registering her first win over a top-five player.
The world number 27 next meets fellow countrywoman Mona Barthel or Yanina Wickmayer of Belgium.
Sixth seed Julia Goerges of Germany also went out after losing 3-6 7-5 6-1 to Czech Klara Zakopalova.
(Writing by Gregory Blachier, editing by Tony Jimenez)