France’s Marion Bartoli reached the WTA Paris Open final for the first time by beating Czech Klara Zakopalova 7-6 (7-3) 6-0 at Stade Pierre de Coubertin on Saturday.

It is the first occasion in five attempts that 27-year-old Bartoli, the second seed, has made the final in her home tournament.

In Sunday’s final, she will face German ninth seed Angelique Kerber, who came from a set down to beat unseeded Belgian Yanina Wickmayer 6-7 (2-7) 6-3 6-4 in the other semi-final.

Having fought back from a set and 1-4 down in her quarter-final win over Italian seventh seed Roberta Vinci the day before, Bartoli displayed similar reserves of determination to overcome Zakopalova.

The Czech world No.51 led 5-2 and 40-15 in the first set but Bartoli saved two set points before storming back to win the opener, with her opponent’s resolve crumbling in a one-sided second set.

“I have trouble getting started!” said Bartoli afterwards.

“But when I was able to save those set points and win the first set, things got much better afterwards. I’m really happy.”

Bartoli reached the semi-finals at last year’s French Open at nearby Roland Garros and is gunning for an eighth career title, her last coming in Osaka last October.

She is also aiming to become the first French winner of the indoor tournament since Amelie Mauresmo in 2009.

World No.27 Kerber, who conquered top seed Maria Sharapova in Friday’s quarter-finals, will be trying to become the first German champion at the event since Steffi Graf in 1995.

It will be only the second final of the German’s career, following her runner-up finish in Bogota in 2010.