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Germany’s Angelique Kerber became the first women’s top seed to lose in the opening round of the French Open with defeat by Ekaterina Makarova.<\/p>\n
Kerber went down 6-2 6-2 in one hour and 22 minutes, leaving her number one status in the balance.<\/p>\n
Both Simona Halep and Karolina Pliskova have the chance to take top spot for the first time with good runs in Paris.<\/p>\n
However, Halep is recovering from injury and Pliskova fell in the first round last year.<\/p>\n
That is symptomatic of the uncertainty in the women’s draw that led Halep to claim up to 15 players are in with a chance of winning the title.<\/p>\n
Makarova is a two-time Grand Slam semi-finalist and former top-10 player<\/p>\n
Kerber, a first-round loser last year as well, barely figured among the favourites on the eve of the tournament.<\/p>\n
Although her defeat might have been a shock in terms of rankings, with Russia’s Makarova at number 40 in the WTA standings, it was no great surprise.<\/p>\n
The 29-year-old from Bremen has been struggling for form this year, reaching just one final and winning only three matches on clay heading into Roland Garros.<\/p>\n
Kerber only regained the number one ranking from Serena Williams after the American stepped away from the tour as she awaits the birth of her first child.<\/p>\n
While Kerber fully merited that status last year, when she won the Australian and US Opens, the German arrived in Paris ranked 13th for the year so far.<\/p>\n
The superb footwork, tenacity from the baseline and all-round aggressive defence that took her so far in 2016 have deserted her in 2017.<\/p>\n
That has left her old frailties exposed, with a weak serve broken six times by Makarova on Philippe Chatrier Court.<\/p>\n
After falling 5-1 down on her way to losing the first set, Kerber rallied late in the second, but the clinical edge has also gone from her game.<\/p>\n
A final tally of just two break points converted from 16 illustrated that lack of certainty in the key moments.<\/p>\n
“Last year was a completely different year,” said Kerber. “The pressure is always there but this year the expectations are much bigger, especially in the big tournaments and the Grand Slams.<\/p>\n
“And the expectations are also from me really big, of course, because I know what I can do, what I did last year.<\/p>\n
“But right now I think I have to find myself again and just try to forget the clay-court season as soon as possible and then reset and start from the grass courts again.”<\/p>\n
Makarova, 28, goes on to face Ukraine’s Lesia Tsurenko in round two, and will feel she has as good a chance as anyone to feature in the latter stages.<\/p>\n
Venus Williams battles through<\/b><\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Venus Williams is still going strong at the age of 36<\/p>\n
American\u00a0Venus Williams\u00a0beat China’s Wang Qiang 6-4 7-6 (7-3) on the 20th anniversary of her debut at Roland Garros.<\/p>\n
The 10th seed hit 44 unforced errors in an untidy display but goes on to face Japan’s 90th-ranked Kurumi Nara.<\/p>\n
Nara beat American wildcard Amanda Anisimova who at 15 years and nine months is the youngest player in the women’s main draw since France’s Alize Cornet in 2005.<\/p>\n
Anisimova, ranked 267, won the first set but Nara fought back to win 3-6 7-5 6-4.<\/p>\n
When Venus lost her only French Open final appearance in 2002 to sister Serena, Anisimova was just nine months old.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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