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Anastasia Potapova, 18, ranked 81st, eliminated fifth seed Angelique Kerber convincingly 6-4, 6-2.
"I was trying to stay focused on myself, my way of playing, running," said Potapova. "I do not try to think a lot about the court, the first round, Kerber, because of course, she's a great player, but you know, I'm here to play at my best. That's what I did. "
After exchanging breaks before returning to service, Kerber lost a lead of 40-0 to 5-4 to give the first set to Potapova. The Russian teenager then took a 4-0 lead in the second set before finally taking the match.
Entering the competition on Sunday, Kerber played few matches on clay after being withdrawn from the Mutua Madrid Open before his second-round match against Petra Martic, injured his right ankle. she then withdrew from the Italian Open to continue healing her injury.
"You know, the pain is – I mean, if you play matches, it's always a little different from the practices," Kerber replied when asked if she was feeling any pain today. "Of course, it's not my excuse and everything, I've done my best, I know there's still a bit of work to do to really play the matches 100%, to slide, to jump on foot and on the leg.
"I've done my best, and that's all I can say, I mean, of course, I know that I still have a few days or weeks left to m". to occupy it. "
The triple Grand Slam champion had the opportunity to regain the rank of world No. 1 at Roland Garros, if she had won the title and if other results had escaped him. There are only four women who can leave Roland Garros in first place: Naomi Osaka (who could lose in the first round and who still remains in first place), Karolina Pliskova (must reach the final to have a chance), Kiki Bertens (must reach the final for a chance) and Petra Kvitova (must win the title to have a chance).
Kerber has now lost in the first round of six of his 12 career appearances at Roland Garros and in three of the last four years.
Potapova's victory over Kerber is the first Top 10 of his career. The former Wimbledon Junior World Champion No. 1 and Junior will then face Marketa Vondrousova or Wang Yafan.
"You know, I do not want to think about the future," Potapova said about the situation as a whole. "I want to think about every point, every game, and the only thing I can think of now is my next turn, it's the second round, and what's going to happen next." If I win, super But I want to stay focused on myself, on my health, and just stay with a clear mind. "
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