MELBOURNE: World number one Angelique Kerber gave herself the perfect birthday gift Wednesday by reaching the Australian Open third round, but she had to work hard against fellow German Carina Witthoeft.
The defending champion, who turned 29, battled through 6-2, 6-7 (3/7), 6-2 and will next face Czech Kristyna Pliskova, the twin sister of fifth seed Karolina Pliskova.
The prospects looked bleak for the unseeded Witthoeft, who has twice lost to Kerber at Wimbledon including an embarrassing 6-0, 6-0 'double bagel' in 2015.
Witthoeft has never beaten a top 10 opponent but she showed far more fight than at the All England Club, with Kerber taken to three sets for the second match in a row.
The top seed said she struggled with the sun in her eyes at times and admitted to too many silly mistakes.
"I was doing I think a lot of mistakes in the important moments. But at the end, I'm happy that I won the match," she said.
"It was not so easy. The conditions were a little bit difficult today. And I was a bit too defensive."
Kerber stunned Serena Williams in the final last year and also went on to win the US Open, dethroning the American as the world's top ranked player.
She is not only defending a major title for the first time but also playing her maiden Grand Slam as top seed, admitting she is still getting used to dealing with the extra pressure.
"To have this pressure is a privilege. It's completely new for me, but I'm doing well. I'm just trying to enjoy it," she on court, before the Rod Laver Arena crowd sang "Happy Birthday".
"I am getting older... I think I will have a great day today," Kerber added.
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