Australian Open: Witthöft loses in round one of Melbourne

Carina Witthöft is the first German player to be eliminated from the Australian Open. The 22-year-old from Hamburg lost 5:7,3:6 on the second day of the tournament after 90 minutes to Caroline Garcia, who was placed eighth.

In the first round, Witthöft played a 5:3 lead and retired for the third time after her opening match in Melbourne. On Monday Julia Görges (Bad Oldesloe/No. 12) and Mona Barthel (Neumünster) had reached the second round. A total of seven German players are in the main field of the first major of the season.