Title contender Angelique Kerber started her Australian Open campaign with a straight-forward 6-2 6-2 victory against Slovenia's Polona Hercog on Monday.
The German had lost a semi-final clash with Simona Halep last year before winning her third Grand Slam title at Wimbledon. She among the favourite to win the title.
The 2016 Australian Open winner will play Brazilian qualifier Beatriz Haddad Maia in the second round in a battle between two left-handed counter-punchers.
#AusOpen 2016 champion @AngeliqueKerber chats to the media following her 6-2 6-2 first round win vs Hercog. https://t.co/HwAQ8w3PgN
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 14, 2019
Kerber minimised her time under the hot sun on Monday, where temperatures surpassed 30 degrees Celsius (86°F) during the day-time matches in Melbourne, securing the straight sets win in just over an hour.