Angelique Kerber, Venus Williams suffer defeats at French Open

In Tennis, world number five Angelique Kerber and Venus Williams have suffered shock first round defeats at the French Open, the second Grand Slam of the season, in Paris.

Kerber, the three-time Grand Slam and reigning Wimbledon champion from Germany, was stunned by world number 81 Anastasia Potapova of Russia, 4-6, 2-6.

Venus, the seven-time Grand Slam winner from the US, was beaten by Ukrainian ninth seed Elina Svitolina, 3-6, 3-6.

The only Indian in the



Singles, Prajnesh Gunneswaran, playing in his first Grand Slam, also bowed out after losing to Marco Dellien of Bolivia, 1-6, 3-6, 1-6.

Second seed Karolina Pliskova, third-placed Roger Federer, Stefanos Tsitsipas, Kei Nishikori and Sloane Stephens advanced to the Singles second round.

World number one Novak Djokovic, second seed Rafael Nadal and 23-time Grand Slam winner Serena Williams are among those who will begin their campaigns today.