Marion Bartoli was one of four upset victims Tuesday.
Strasbourg, France (Sports Network) -
Top seed and former runner-up Marion Bartoli of France was one of four upset victims Tuesday at the $235,000 Strasbourg International tennis event, a final clay-court French Open tune-up.
Italy's Camila Giorgi upended the former Wimbledon runner-up and 2011 Strasbourg finalist Bartoli in 6-3, 6-2 fashion at Strasbourg Tennis Club, where rain wiped out Monday's schedule.
Other upsets occurred when French wild card Virginie Razzano toppled second- seeded Austrian Tamira Paszek 6-1, 6-4, American Lauren Davis knocked out sixth-seeded compatriot Christina McHale 7-5, 6-3, and Spaniard Maria-Teresa Torro-Flor erased eighth-seeded Slovakian veteran Daniela Hantuchova 6-3, 4-6, 7-6 (7-4).
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The 'Big Three' assembles in Paris
By Scott Riley, Tennis Editor
Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) -
Russian superstar Maria Sharapova will attempt to defend her title against the likes of the great Serena Williams and fellow former world No. 1 Victoria Azarenka when the 2013 French Open begins Sunday at Stade Roland Garros.
Sharapova completed the coveted career Grand Slam last year by capturing her first-ever French Open title, as the tall Russian capped off her Parisian fortnight by beating surprising Italian Sara Errani in the finale on Court Chatrier.
The 26-year-old Sharapova, however, will not head to Paris as the top seed, or even the favorite this year, as the incomparable Serena is playing some of the best tennis of her meritorious career, which includes a seemingly unstoppable career-best 24-match winning streak.
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