Two women who could be considered contenders to feature in the Australian Open final next Sunday set impressive markers with clinical wins in their opening round matches on Tuesday.
Britain’s Johanna Konta shrugged off concerns over her hip, which had caused her to withdraw from Brisbane in the opening week, to win against the United States’ Madison Brengle 6-3, 6-1. The No.9 seed broke three times in the first, dropping one service game as she served for the set. She made amends by breaking her opponent in the next game.
After both women held their first service games in the second, Konta ran riot, winning five games in a row to take the match.
Konta: “There’s so many massive first rounds, tough second rounds. There’s no straight sailing to the quarters or semis anymore. It doesn’t exist.”
Konta was joined in the second round by Kerber, as the German 2016 champion defeated her compatriot Anna-Lena Friedsam 6-0, 6-4. Kerber, who endured a torrid 2017 season, is seeded 21st this week despite being ranked as the No.1 player last year.
Kerber played an almost perfect first set. The former No.1 ultimately won 14 of the opening 16 games before Friedsam staged a late comeback. Kerber dropped serve to allow her compatriot back in. However, the 21st seed broke back immediately. Her final service game was lengthy, but she eventually held for an impressive win.
Kerber: “I start really well, really seeing the ball early. She was fighting to the last point. I say goodbye to 2017 already, I am not looking back!”
Kerber will play either Donna Vekic or Nao Hibino in the second round. 20th seed Barbora Strycova was also an early winner on day two, 6-1, 7-5 over the United States’ Kristie Ahn.
