Kerber crashes out in first round

Defending champion Angelique Kerber has crashed out in the opening round of the US Open. The German sixth seed, who has struggled for form throughout 2017, was beaten 6-3 6-1 by world No.45 Naomi Osaka in little over an hour.

Kerber struggled with Osaka’s power from the off. The German, who won just 37% of points behind her second serve, was overwhelmed by the Japanese star.

The 19 year-old pounded 22 winners to Kerber’s nine, with the world No.6 making 22 unforced errors.

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“She just goes for it,” Kerber said after the match. “I think she took the chances and she played a very good match.

“But for me it was for sure not the best day and not the best match.”

The defeat is just the latest in a string of disappointing results for the German. She has now lost seven times in the opening round of a tournament in 2017, and has made just one final. Her ranking is projected to slip to No.12 at the end of the US Open.

“I’m still the same player and the same person,” she said. “I know that I’m strong and I know that I will come back stronger, for sure.

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“I know that I will not be giving up like this. So for me, I will try to forget the match as soon as possible and look forward again.”

For Osaka, it was a sweet return to a court which witnessed her stunning capitulation in 2016. The teen was leading Madison Keys 5-1 in the second when the American turned the match around.

“It means a lot, especially since how I ended last year’s US Open,” Osaka said. “But I tried not to think how good she was while I was playing her. I just tried to focus on what I could do to win the match.”