THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

PARIS -- Angelique Kerber of Germany won her first WTA title Sunday by overpowering second-seeded Marion Bartoli 7-6 (3), 5-7, 6-3 in the Open GDF Suez final.

Kerber became the first German to win the Paris tournament since Steffi Graf in 1995, clinching victory with a forehand winner.

After a first set with four service breaks, Kerber capitalized on an unforced error from Bartoli to take a 4-1 lead in the tiebreaker. She clinched the opening set when the Frenchwoman's backhand sailed long.

Kerber then whipped a forehand crosscourt winner to break for a 2-0 lead in the next set, but the U.S. Open semifinalist failed to serve out the match at 5-3, as Bartoli won four straight games to even the match with an ace.