The top seeded tennis player Maria Sharapova crashed out of the WTA Paris Open in the quarter-finals after falling 6-4 6-4 to German ninth seed Angelique Kerber.
Sharapova had breezed past Kerber in straight sets en route to the Australian Open final last month but the 24-year-old exacted revenge on the world No.3 at a disbelieving Pierre de Coubertin indoor arena.
Kerber, the world No.27, had never previously beaten a top-10 player and will now face either Belgian world No.29 Yanina Wickmayer or 21-year-old German qualifier Mona Barthel for a place in the final.
Second seed Marion Bartoli, the last Frenchwoman in the draw, continues her quest for a first ever Paris Open title against Italian seventh seed Roberta Vinci.
The winner of that match will face Czech world number 51 Klara Zakopalova after she came from behind to win 3-6 7-5 6-1 against German sixth seed Julia Goerges, who required treatment on a left thigh injury in the deciding set.
