Kerber loses to Bertens

Angelique Kerber has been knocked out of the first round of the French Open, after losing 6-2, 3-6, 6-3 to Kiki Bertens of the Netherlands.

The current Australian Open champion had to leave the field for treatment on her left shoulder during the match, but despite returning to win her service the 28-year-old was unable to break back or indeed turn the game around.

Kerber had pulled out of the Nuremberg tournament a week before due to the injury, which clearly effected her play in Paris.

The defeat is now the second time in three years that the holding Australian Open champion has gone out in the first round at Roland Garros, after Li Na was knocked out in 2014.

"Of course, I'm disappointed that I lost in the first round, but that's sport and that always can happen, Kerber said.“It was not my best tennis I played today.

"I was ready, I was practising very well here, but, the first rounds are always tough - especially for me, but, what can I say? It happens."

Görges and Petkovic progress, Kohlschreiber bows out

World no. 57 Julia Görges had better fortune, logging a surprise 6-2, 6-3 win against Britain's Johanna Konta. Görges made the last 16 at Roland Garros in 2015.

Andrea Petkovic also bested British opposition on Tuesday, reaching the second round at Laura Robson's expense, 6-2, 6-2. Germany's second-best female player in terms of the world rankings made the French Open semis in 2014.

Görges and Petkovic join fellow Germans Annika Beck, Tatjana Maria and Dustin Brown in the second round.

Ten of the 17 Germans playing in Paris have fallen at the first hurdle. That includes Philipp Kohlschreiber, who failed to clear the French Open first round for the first time in five years. Spain's Nicolas Almagro bested the seeded Kohlschreiber 5-7, 6-2, 6-2, 6-4.

"It's a shame and it's bitter. Today this certainly wasn't the best Kohli, but nor was it the worst," the world no. 26 said of his performance. "My opponent always found good responses."

Murray fights back to avoid upset

Andy Murray looked set to suffer similar aguish at Roland Garos before coming from behind to beat Radek Stepanek 3-6, 3-6, 6-0, 6-3, 7-5 on Court Philippe Chatrier.

The Scot was behind by two sets to one but managed to pull himself up one break before play was suspended on Monday night. Murray restarted action on Tuesday to claim the decider at 5-all to push him through to the second round.

There Murray will play 164th-ranked French wildcard Mathias Bourgue.

"He's always been extremely difficult to play," said Murray after a ninth career comeback from two sets down.

"He was playing drop shots, hitting the ball very flat, it was very difficult to get into a rhythm. That's credit to him and the way he played."

sb/msh (dpa, AP)