Tennis

Kerber loses in 1st match at Qatar Open

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 6:27 p.m. ET

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DOHA, Qatar (AP) Australian Open champion Angelique Kerber made a disappointing return to tournament tennis on Tuesday, losing 7-5, 6-1 to China's Zheng Saisai in the second round at the Qatar Open.

Kerber beat Serena Williams at Melbourne in the opening Grand Slam of the year on Jan. 30. The top-seeded Kerber split two matches in Germany's loss to Switzerland in the Fed Cup and received a first-round bye at Doha.

The tournament also lost its second-seeded player when Simona Halep, the 2014 champion, was beaten by Russian qualifier Elena Vesnina 6-7 (1), 6-4, 6-1.

Zheng will play Eugenie Bouchard in the third round after the Canadian beat Denisa Allertova of the Czech Republic 7-6 (0), 7-5.

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