Top French Open players tumble early

A year after winning the French Open for her initial tour-level title, Jelena Ostapenko is again in rare company: a first-round loser as the defending champion at a Grand Slam tournament.

Something even more unusual happened at Roland Garros, too: Venus Williams was beaten in her opening match at a second consecutive major, the only time in her lengthy, distinguished career she’s had such early back-to-back exits. All in all, it was quite a Day 1 at the Grand Slam: There already is certain to be at least one firsttime French Open finalist, because 2010 champ Francesca Schiavone and 2012 runner-up Sara Errani joined 2017 champ Ostapenko and 2002 runner-up Williams on the way out of the bottom half of the draw.

Ostapenko had 48 unforced errors vs. 22 winners as she bowed out to Kateryna Kozlova of Ukraine 7-5, 6-3. Williams had 21 more unforced errors than her opponent in a 6-4, 7-5 loss to Wang Qiang of China.

Ostapenko is only the second reigning women’s champion to exit in the first round of the French Open a year later — it happened to 2005 winner Anastasia Myskina — and the sixth at any major tournament in the professional era.

Errani lost to Alize Cornet of France 2-6, 6-2, 6-3. Schiavone fell to Viktoria Kuzmova 7-6 (2), 7-6 (2). Also in that half of the draw: No. 22 Johanna Konta of Britain fell 6-4, 6-3 to Yulia Putintseva. All seeded men in action won.