Paris, May 28: In a major upset, unseededd Ekaterina Makarova from Russia stunned top seeded Angelique Kerber by 6-2, 6-2 in the opening round of French Open on Sunday (May 28).
; Women's Singles Seeds" />Guide to French Open; Women's Singles Seeds
Kerber, the first women's top seed to lose in the French Open's first round in the Open era, was also eliminated in the tennis tournament's round one last year, reports Efe.
The German became the first top seeded woman to lose in the opening round of the French Open since the sport turned professional in 1968. Kerber lacked the pace and power to trouble a fellow left-hander.
She did not find herself as comfortable on the clay court as World No. 40 Makarova, who broke her serve several times during the game.
Makarova is set to play in round two against the winner of the match between Ukrainians Lesia Tsurenko and Kateryna Kozlova.
Kerber, 29, has struggled this year, withdrawing from the Madrid Open with a thigh injury and going down in straight sets to qualifier Anna Kontaveit in Rome.
"I need matches. I need matches where I can start playing and feeling my tennis. Winning matches," she said prior to Sunday's loss.
Earlier this year, Kerber's maiden Grand Slam title defence, and first major tournament as world number one, ended poorly in the US Open too.
Unseeded Coco Vandeweghe of USA defeated Kerber 6-2, 6-3 the first Grand Slam of the year.
OneIndia News
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