Disillusioned and with tears in her eyes, Angelique Kerber did not immediately know the solution to her sporting low.

Even in front of a home audience and at one of her favorite tournaments in Stuttgart, the best German tennis player did not succeed in the hoped-for turn for the better in what has been a weak season so far.

6: 3, 4: 6, 4: 6 Kerber lost their opening game on Wednesday evening against the sixth in the world rankings Anett Kontaveit from Estonia.

For the first time she is not in the second round in her tenth main draw participation in the most important German women's tournament.

"It was such an important tournament for me to play here again in front of a home crowd.

The fact that it was so tight here and I didn't manage to stand here again, that's what bothers me," said the German number one.

"Of course it's sad"

After the next early defeat, the 34-year-old from Kiel was in a hurry.

Just half an hour after losing the last point against Kontaveit, she faced the press.

Her black tracksuit suited her mood.

She has to process the next setback after a convincing first sentence and due to a too high error rate.

"Obviously it's sad that I can't continue playing here," she said.

After the two three-set defeats in Kazakhstan, where she missed the final round in the Billie Jean King Cup with the German selection last weekend, Kerber was looking forward to the performance in Stuttgart.

In 2015 and 2016, Kerber won the title here.

In the familiar environment, the world number 17 wanted.

get rid of their negative trend now.

In front of 2550 of a maximum of 4500 spectators, it looked like she could actually succeed in this complicated opening task.

At the beginning, the three-time Grand Slam winner played aggressively and forced her game on the not outstanding Stuttgart finalist from 2019.

Twice Kerber took the serve from the 26-year-old to 1-0 and 4-1.

She then lost two games in a row, but confidently secured the first round.

“I just have to win matches like this”

However, winning the set did not give the 2016 Australian Open and US Open winner any security.

At Kerber, the error rate increased.

When she had to accept the early break with a double fault in the last set, Kerber waved it off.

From 1:4 she fought her way back, but the turnaround was no longer successful.

"In the end you just have to win such matches," said Kerber.

"I know how it is.

I've often had the feeling when you're close and then it's not enough.

Then you need a match that gives me the turnaround feeling, the confidence.

I will work towards getting that feeling.”

After her preparation, which was impaired by a corona infection, the former world number one has not yet reached her top form this season.

The 2018 Wimbledon winner lost her opening game at the Australian Open and two other tournaments.

The only two victories of the season so far have only come in Indian Wells.

Kontaveit has also been an opponent in recent years who did not suit her: Kerber has only won one of six games.

Meanwhile, Eva Lys also lost out in the round of 16 in Stuttgart.

In the biggest match of her young tennis career so far, the qualifier from the Hamburger Club an der Alster had no chance at 1: 6, 1: 6 against the Polish world number one Iga Swiatek.

“It was incredible to be able to compete with such a player.

I had moments when I was able to assert my tennis, which gives you a lot of self-confidence," summed up the qualifier.