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Angelique Kerber
Photo:
CHRISTOPHE PETIT TESSON / EPO
Angelique Kerber missed her fifth round of 16 at the French Open.
The German number one lost in their third round match in Paris to Aljaksandra Sasnowitsch 4: 6, 6: 7 (5: 7).
It was Kerber's first defeat after seven successes in a row.
Last week on the way to the title at the WTA tournament in Strasbourg, the three-time Grand Slam winner Sasnowitsch had beaten in three sets.
Now she missed a good chance to reach the quarterfinals in Paris for the first time since 2018.
In the round of the last 16, a duel with Martina Trevisan, the world number 59.
from Italy, serviced.
Kerber, who had not survived the first round in the French capital in the past three years, had worked her way into the tournament.
In the first round against Magdalena Frech from Poland, she had to fend off two match points, but she then showed her routine against the young Frenchwoman Elsa Jacquemot.
Always put on the defensive
In round three, Sasnowitsch, who acted aggressively from the baseline, dictated what happened, Kerber was repeatedly pushed onto the defensive, her backhand lacked the length.
Two winners from Kerber faced 21 from Sasnowitsch.
Kerber managed another break to make it 4: 5, but Sasnowitsch took her serve again.
Kerber briefly left the pitch, then played more offensively and fought his way into the tie-break, in which Sasnowitsch converted her second match point after 1:29 hours.
sak/sid/dpa
