Kwon Soon-woo falls in the first round at French Open

Kwon Soon-woo plays Andrey Rublev of Russia in their men's first round match during the French Open at Roland Garros in Paris, France on Tuesday. [EPA/YONHAP]

Kwon Soon-woo was knocked out in the first round of the French Open on Tuesday, losing 3-1 to world No. 7 Andrey Rublev of Russia at Roland-Garros in Paris.

Kwon won the first set after a tiebreak 7-6, but Rublev rallied to quickly beat Kwon 6-3, 6-2, 6-4 over the next three sets.

Kwon came out strong in the first set, coming back with three straight points from a 5-4 deficit to win the tiebreaker.

However, Rublev broke Kwon in the second set and it seemed the tide had turned to the Russian, with the second set ending 6-3 and the third set ending 6-2.

Kwon put up a formidable fight in the fourth set, holding Rublev to a 4-4 tie but Rublev won his serve game then broke Kwon in the next to win the match.

Rublev had the upper-hand in aces with 15 to Kwon's three.

The loss comes just one year after Kwon advanced to the third round at Roland Garros.

Last year was the first time Kwon has advanced to the third round of a Grand Slam, dropping out of the U.S. Open in the second round two years ago. Only two Koreans, Chung Hyeon and Lee Hyung-taik, have reached the third round in Paris, and neither made it any further.

Kwon also won his first ATP Tour title last year at the Astana Open on Sept. 26, 2021, beating James Duckworth of Australia in straight sets in the final to claim the title.

Kwon became the first Korean to win an ATP Tour title since Lee, who won the Sydney International in 2003. Kwon and Lee are the only Koreans ever to win on the sport's top-tier tour.

Kwon reached a career high at No. 55 on Oct. 4, 2021. He is now ranked at No. 71.

Just before the French Open, Kwon crashed out of the Lyon Open on May 17, beating Aljaz Bedene of Serbia in three sets in the round of 32 but losing in two sets to Yosuke Watanuki of Japan in the round of 16.

BY YUN SO-HYANG [yun.sohyang@joongang.co.kr]