Defending champion Angelique Kerber overcame a mid-match blip to see of Ukraine’s Lesia Tsurenko 6-2, 5-7, 6-2, in the first round at the Australian Open.
In what was an almost perfect start, the top seed dropped only four points behind her serve throughout the opening set as she dictated the rallies. Kerber’s only danger occurred in her first service game when she had to fend off a break point. From that moment onwards, the German had control of proceedings with the help of her opponents 11 unforced errors, one of which gifted her the set.
A familiar pattern occurred during the early stages of the second set with an aggressive Kerber taking the ball early and forcing her rival to make the extra shot. Tsurenko did occasionally display glimmers of the tennis that has brought her two WTA titles, but it was not consistent enough. Grabbing her third consecutive break at the start of the second set, Kerber carefully worked her way towards a chance to serve the match out at 5-4. Closing the proceedings was far from straightforward with the German hitting back-to-back errors to allow Tsurenko to break back and level 5-5.
Kerber’s tentative play moved her from a game away from victory to a game away from losing the second set. Tsurenko’s unexpected comeback was completed with the help of a faltering match favourite. Struggling with her footwork and movement, a backhand into the net from Kerber allowed the Ukrainian to level the match at one set all.
On the verge of becoming the first defending champion to lose in their first round in Melbourne since Jennifer Capriati in 2003, Kerber managed to grab the crucial lead in the decider. As Tsurenko struggled with a hand cramp, a 25-shot rally concluded with an error from the Ukrainian to hand the top seed a break for 3-2. Pressing ahead once again in the match, Kerber secured the double break following another error from her rival.
Learning from her misfortunes of the second set, Kerber held her nerve to close the match out. Racing to a 40-0 lead, the win was secured after a Tsurenko backhand smashed into the net.
Following her two-hour victory, Kerber admitted to having flashbacks of her first round match in Melbourne 12 months ago. On that occasion she saved a match point before securing the victory. Dropping the second set against Tsurenko, she feared it would happen again.
“I was thinking about it.” She said during her on-court interview. “When I lost the second set and I knew I had a match point, I was thinking about one year ago (in Melbourne).”
“I’m happy it was not the same (today). I won my match and that is everything that counts.
“First rounds are always tough.”
Hitting 27 winners and 34 unforced errors, the world No.1 will play compatriot Carina Witthöft in the second round.
