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Melbourne (AP) - Angelique Kerber is eliminated in the first round of the Australian Open.
The German number one lost on Monday in Melbourne against the American Bernarda Pera with 0: 6, 4: 6 and showed a desperate performance, especially in the first set.
The long one-sided game in the Margaret Court Arena lasted only 70 minutes.
In 2016, the 33-year-old celebrated her first Grand Slam title in Australia.
Kerber had to spend 14 days in strict quarantine after arriving in Melbourne because there was a positive corona case on her flight.
The former number one in the world was therefore not allowed to leave her hotel room for two weeks.
The preparation for the first Grand Slam tournament of the season was of course significantly restricted.
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But that cannot be an explanation for the appearance against Pera.
Especially since she was able to win at least two games in the preparatory tournament last week.
But Kerber only woke up when she was already 0: 6, 0: 3 behind.
After that, the Kiel woman improved and fought her way back, but it was no longer enough for the turning point.
© dpa-infocom, dpa: 210208-99-343761 / 2