Li Na was the defending champion, but lost in the fourth round to qualifierYaroslava Shvedova: the first time a defending champion was defeated by a qualifier in the tournament's history.
The tournament was notable for one of the biggest upsets in French Open history as world No. 111Virginie Razzano defeated world No. 5 and2002 championSerena Williams in the first round, despite Williams being two points from victory at 5–1 in the second-set tiebreaker. Razzano was only the second player ranked outside the top 100 (afterSun Tiantian at the2005 China Open) to defeat Williams in aWTA Tour-level main draw match.[citation needed] It was Williams' first loss in the first round of a major.[3]
This tournament marked the major main-draw debut of future world No. 1Karolína Plíšková. She lost toMarion Bartoli in the first round.