Kerber's quick kaput makes Open history

World No 1 and top seed bounced by upstart Russian

PARIS - Germany's Angelique Kerber has not been playing anything like a world No 1 this season, and on Sunday she became the first top-seeded woman in the professional era to lose in the opening round of the French Open.

Kerber, who ended Serena Williams' long reign atop the WTA rankings last year, was gone from Roland Garros by lunchtime on Day 1, putting up little resistance while being beaten 6-2, 6-2 by 40th-ranked Ekaterina Makarova of Russia.