Defending champion Kerber knocked out in US Open first round

Angelique Kerber of Germany leaves the court after losing to Naomi Osaka of Japan

Defending champion Angelique Kerber of Germany was knocked out of the U.S. Open in the first round when she lost 6-3 6-1 to Japanese teenager Naomi Osaka on Tuesday.

The last defending women’s champion to lose in the first round at Flushing Meadows was Russian Svetlana Kuznetsova in 2005.

The 19-year-old Osaka, the 2016 WTA newcomer of the year, was rarely troubled by the sixth-seeded Kerber, who has not won a title since she prevailed here last year.

Osaka broke for 5-3 in the opening set and never looked back to claim her first victory against a top-10 player.