Defending champ reduced to tears in heartbreaking scenes at French Open

Barbora Krejcikova broke down in tears in her post-match press conference after a stunning first-round loss at the French Open on Monday.

Krejcikova became just the third defending champion to be knocked out in the opening round at Roland Garros, losing to 97th-ranked Frenchwoman Diane Parry.

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In her first match in three months because of an injured right elbow, the 2021 champion couldn't match it with Parry despite a strong start.

The Czech star won eight of the first nine games to take a one-set lead, but the 19-year-old Parry reeled off six-straight games to tie the match before winning it 1-6 6-2 6-3.

Parry received raucous backing from spectators at Court Philippe Chatrier, where the noise echoed under the retractable roof pulled shut because of rain.

"It's a dream for me. It was always a dream to play on this court, with the French crowd to support me," Parry said.

"They clearly pushed me to victory today. I'm the happiest person right now."

Speaking in her post-match press conference, Krejcikova broke down in tears as she admitted she "hit a wall".

"I just collapsed physically," she said.

"It was tough because I didn't play the matches. Matches are different to practices. I tried to prepare the best way I could."

However she admitted she was happy just to have made it to Paris after fearing her elbow injury would prevent her from playing at all.

“It was difficult. I mean, I expected it’s going to be difficult, and it was,” she said.

“I think overall, tennis-wise, it wasn’t that bad. I think physically, it was a little worse.”

The only other women to lose in the first round after winning the title the year before are Anastasia Myskina in 2005 and Jelena Ostapenko in 2018.

Since the Open era began in 1968, Krejcikova is just the seventh reigning women's champion to be bounced in the first round at all of the grand slam tournaments.

Fans expressed their sadness for Krejcikova on social media.

Naomi Osaka also suffers first-round loss

Also exiting the French Open at the first hurdle on Monday was four-time grand slam winner Naomi Osaka, who made an unhappy return to Roland Garros one year after pulling out of the clay-court tournament to protect her mental health.

Osaka lost 7-5, 6-4 to Amanda Anisimova, who also beat the Japanese star in the third round at the Australian Open in January.

Osaka double-faulted twice on break point to go down 5-6 in the first set and 3-4 down in the second. Each time Anisimova made the break count.

Meanwhile, Angelique Kerber nearly followed them out of the tournament but survived two match points to advance.

The German veteran is chasing a career grand slam at the French Open having won the other three majors previously.

World No.1 Iga Swiatek also progressed, along with fellow former grand slam champions Petra Kvitova, Victoria Azarenka, Emma Raducanu and Bianca Andreescu.

Swiatek, who won the French Open in 2020, extended her winning streak to 29 matches after beating Ukraine's Lesia Tsurenko 6-2 6-0 in 54 minutes.

The Polish star is riding the longest winning streak by a woman since Serena Williams won 34 in a row in 2013.

with agencies

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