The first round is over in the women's draw at the 2017 french open. The biggest upset by seeding is the elimination of Germany's Angelique Kerber. Kerber became the first top seed in French Open history to be eliminated in the first round as Ekaterina Makarova won their match in straight sets.
However, while the upset looks huge on paper, it is perhaps not a huge one from some other perspectives. Firstly, Kerber has struggled a lot this season while Makarova is certainly an accomplished player in her own right. Secondly, the French Open has never been Kerber's bread and butter as she is more of a hard courter and grass courter.
All the seeded players that fell
Looking at the other results in the women's draw, there were some other upsets as well. Seeded players that fell in the first round included No. 31 Robert Vinci, No. 22 Mirjana Lucic-Baroni, No. 24 Daria Gavrilova, No. 19 Coco Vandeweghe, and No. 25 Lauren Davis. Grand Slam tennis fans will note that in the case of Lucic-Baroni and Vandeweghe, their eliminations take out two of the semifinalists from the Australian Open earlier this season. With Serena Williams out pre-tournament (maternity leave) that leaves just Venus Williams as the only semifinalist from Melbourne Park to make the 2nd round at Roland Garros.
Perhaps the largest upset, if you aren't shocked by Angelique Kerber's upset, is the elimination of No. 7 Johanna Konta.
The British player already has two titles and that projects to a final-season total of four. However, if she's to add a major to her title count this season then it will have to happen at either Wimbledon or the Flushing Meadows. Konta, who is Britain's finest player on the women's tour, fell to little-known Chinese-Taipei player Su-Wei Hsieh.
Radwanska, Stosur eyeing spot in quarters
Konta's elimination does mean that a player outside of the top-eight seeds will make the quarterfinals in what was her section of the draw. No. 9 Agnieszka Radwanska, who won her first-round match in straight sets, is now the highest seed in that section of the draw. However, Caroline Garcia and Alize Cornet will carry French hopes into the second round.
Meanwhile Barbora Strycova of the Czech Republic will certainly feel as though she has a chance to make the quarters as well.
Action continues in the women's draw on Wednesday with Venus Williams and Garbine Muguruza on the main show court in separate matches. Kristina Mladenovic, who survived a first-round scare, will also be action as she seems to be the leader of the home-country hopefuls.
