Angelique Kerber and the French Open have never been a love affair.

“Oh yes, about the sand,” she once said about the tennis highlight in Roland Garros.

“It will probably no longer be my favorite rubber.” The 33-year-old won three of the four Grand Slam tournaments in her successful career.

The only thing missing is the title on the red ashes of Paris.

He will continue to do so.

On Sunday Kerber lost in round one to Ukrainian Anhelina Kalinina 2-6, 4-6.

Pirmin Clossé

Sports editor.

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    Kerber was not one of the favorites for the overall win at this year's event anyway. The results of the past weeks and months have been too weak. But the early end is still a disappointment. Kerber had decided to go into the tournament, this time without expectations, without pressure. “Maybe I can cause a surprise like this,” she had announced. But the plan didn't work out. Once again, her trip to Paris ended prematurely. 

    Because Kerber is not completely unfamiliar with the feeling of a first round defeat at the French Open.

    In the meantime, she has failed eight times in 13 participations.

    In the past two years, for example, against the Russian Anastassija Potapowa and the Slovenian Kaja Juvan.

    The defeat in 2017 was particularly bitter. At that time, she lost as number one on the seeding list and one of the favorites against Russian Ekaterina Makarova. 

    Furious catch-up remains uncrowned

    Against Kalinina, only number 139 in the world rankings but with two tournament victories in a row on the third-class ITF tour, Kerber made a big false start. After less than 20 minutes she was 0: 5 behind. Serve, return and above all the great passivity in the game from the baseline - the list of shortcomings was long. Kerber found the game a little better towards the end of the first round. But the rearing up came too late.  

    Kerber broke the impression of having the momentum on her side at the beginning of the second set.

    Again she was quickly behind with 0: 5.

    She made many unforced mistakes, remained too defensive and failed time and again to end promising rallies with winning strokes.

    Her furious catch-up, which even brought her a match ball to make it 5: 5, ultimately also remained uncrowned.

    After almost one and a half hours of play, the match was over. 

    The red sand remains a red cloth for Kerber.

    Although she has already proven her class at the French Open with quarter-finals in 2012 and 2018.

    The 2018 Wimbledon champion should still come in handy for the grass season to begin.

    “About the sand” will eventually no longer be their business.