Aussie Open champ falls at French Open
Australian Open champion Angelique Kerber became the first big name to fall at Roland Garros, losing 6-2, 3-6, 6-3 to Kiki Bertens.
The third-ranked Kerber struggled Tuesday, dealing with a shoulder injury and a determined opponent.
Bertens broke Kerber twice to claim the game’s first set. Kerber, who toppled world No. 1 Serena Williams in Melbourne for a stunning upset, then responded with a 6-3 win in the second set to stave off elimination.
But Bertens would not be denied, jumping out to a 3-0 lead in the deciding third set before Kerber called for a medical time out to tend to her ailing shoulder.
The time out briefly revitalized Kerber, as she staved off two match points. But, a failed drop shot bid would send Kerber home, while Bertens was through to the second round.
Kiki Bertens s'offre la tête de série n°3 : Angélique Kerber #RG16 https://t.co/FWf4OxjWsb
— Roland Garros (@rolandgarros) May 24, 2016
"I'm disappointed that I lost the first round here," Kerber said after the match. "That was for sure not my best tennis I played today."
Berterns had momentum on her side, as she came into the match having claimed a title in a Nuremberg warm-up tournament. Meanwhile, Kerber had suffered opening-round losses at both the Madrid and Italian opens. She had never advanced past the quarterfinals at Roland Garros.