Australian Open champion Angelique Kerber became the first big casualty of the French Open when she was beaten by Kiki Bertens in the first round.
It was a tough draw for Kerber, with Bertens going into the clash on the back of a title in Nuremberg at the weekend, and the Dutchwoman continued her fine form to win 6-2 3-6 6-3.
The leading women have been hugely inconsistent all season so it is no great surprise to see one of them fall early.
Bertens, ranked 58, began brilliantly but Kerber looked like she had turned the match round in the second set.
However, Bertens quickly moved into a 3-0 lead in the third and, although Kerber saved two match points, a drop shot into the net on the third sealed her fate.
Eugenie Bouchard is now down at 47 in the rankings but her form of late has been a little more encouraging and she eased past dangerous German Laura Siegemund 6-2 6-2.
Source: PA
