Aug 26, 2019; Flushing, NY, USA; Kristina Mladenovic of France hits to Angelique Kerber of Germany in the first round on day one of the 2019 U.S. Open tennis tournament at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. Mandatory Credit: Danielle Parhizkaran-USA TODAY Sports
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Kristina Mladenovic upset former world number one Angelique Kerber 7-5 0-6 6-4 on Monday to put an early end to the 2016 U.S. Open champion's bid for a second trophy at Flushing Meadows.
Mladenovic suffered back spasms that twice required medical attention in a second set dominated by the German but recovered in the decider, breaking Kerber in the first game to seize the momentum.
Aug 26, 2019; Flushing, NY, USA; Kristina Mladenovic of France celebrates after defeating Angelique Kerber of Germany in the first round on day one of the 2019 U.S. Open tennis tournament at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. Credit: Danielle Parhizkaran-USA TODAY Sports
Kerber battled back to tie the set at 3-3 but the Frenchwoman broke the 14th seed again to take a 5-4 lead.
She crushed her 46th winner, a forehand from the baseline, on match point to end the nearly two-and-a-half-hour encounter.
The outcome registered as a surprise but not quite a shock as Kerber, in recent months, has not looked like the player who won both the U.S. and the Australian Opens in 2016 before capturing the Wimbledon championship last year.
Aug 26, 2019; Flushing, NY, USA; Angelique Kerber of Germany walks off the court after losing to Kristina Mladenovic of France in the first round on day one of the 2019 U.S. Open tennis tournament at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. Credit: Danielle Parhizkaran-USA TODAY Sports
"It was not my best match but she played a good tactic against me," Kerber told reporters.
"I played good in the second set and (it) was (an) up-and-down match," she said.
"The first rounds are always not so easy especially since I played not so well in the last few weeks."
Aug 26, 2019; Flushing, NY, USA; Kristina Mladenovic of France hits to Angelique Kerber of Germany in the first round on day one of the 2019 U.S. Open tennis tournament at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. Mandatory Credit: Danielle Parhizkaran-USA TODAY Sports
Kerber has particularly struggled at Grand Slam events this year, falling in the fourth round of the Australian Open, the first round of the French Open and the second round of Wimbledon prior to Monday's first-round exit.
"Every Grand Slam is a new tournament. And, yeah, this year it was not really the best year for Grand Slams for me," she said.
Despite the disappointing results, Kerber said she had no plans to reunite with coach Torben Beltz, after they parted company in 2017 following her sensational 2016.
Aug 26, 2019; Flushing, NY, USA; Kristina Mladenovic of France celebrates after a point against Angelique Kerber of Germany in the first round on day one of the 2019 U.S. Open tennis tournament at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. Mandatory Credit: Danielle Parhizkaran-USA TODAY Sports
"No, I think Torben has a good job right now," she said of the German coach, who now works with Donna Vekic.
"And we are still friends and I think it's good like it is now," she added with a smile.
Aug 26, 2019; Flushing, NY, USA; Angelique Kerber of Germany hits to Kristina Mladenovic of France in the first round on day one of the 2019 U.S. Open tennis tournament at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. Mandatory Credit: Danielle Parhizkaran-USA TODAY Sports
(Reporting by Rory Carroll; editing by Clare Fallon)
Aug 26, 2019; Flushing, NY, USA; Angelique Kerber of Germany (left) and Kristina Mladenovic of France shake hands after a victory by Mladenovic in the first round on day one of the 2019 U.S. Open tennis tournament at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. Mandatory Credit: Danielle Parhizkaran-USA TODAY Sports
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