French Open: Australian Open champion Angelique Kerber knocked out in first round
Kerber struggled with injury and lost in three sets to Kiki Bertens.
Angelique Kerber's first grand slam match since winning the Australian Open in January ended in despair after she was beaten 6-2, 3-6, 6-3 by Kiki Bertens of the Netherlands in the French Open first round on Tuesday.
The German third seed struggled with a shoulder injury in the third set and went off court for treatment when trailing 3-0.
The break failed to revitalise her, however, and after saving two match points, Kerber surrendered her title hopes with an ill-judged drop shot that failed to clear the net.
World number 58 Bertens will next play either French wildcard Alize Lim or Italian Camila Giorgi.