Kerber’s stunning summer continues

Angelique Kerber is threatening to seize Australian Open title favouritism after storming to her 10th straight victory of the summer.

The 2016 champion and former world No.1 maintained her unbeaten start to the year with a merciless 6-0 6-4 first-round win over German compatriot Anna-Lena Friedsam at Melbourne Park on Tuesday.

Undefeated at the Hopman Cup in Perth and triumphant at last week’s Sydney International, Kerber has buried the demons of a horror 2017 season in emphatic fashion.

“2017, I say goodbye already, so I’m not looking back,” Kerber said.

“I’m just happy the new season’s started. I’m just enjoying it again, enjoying being back on court.

“I love playing in Australia. It’s just amazing. Something is going on with Australia and me. I love the country and the people here.”

Australia – my happy place ???????? ????Thank you to my team & the fans for a great start to the new season ???????????? #MelbourneNext #SydneyTennis #TeamAngie #AusOpen pic.twitter.com/RxIM6VO2SL

— Angelique Kerber (@AngeliqueKerber) January 13, 2018

Kerber took care of Friedsam in 66 minutes to book a second-round meeting on Thursday with either Japan’s Nao Hibino or Croatian Donna Vekic.

The 29-year-old could strike unseeded superstar Maria Sharapova in round three.

After missing last year’s Open while serving a doping ban, Sharapova made a successful return to Melbourne Park on Tuesday with an ominous 6-1 6-4 win over German Tatjana Maria.

“I get shivers,” Sharapova said after saluting the crowd on Margaret Court Arena.

“It means a lot to me. I cherish these moments.”

Wimbledon champion Garbine Muguruza and eighth seed Caroline Garcia also lurk in Kerber’s loaded bottom quarter of the draw.

Garcia opened her campaign on Tuesday with a 7-5 6-3 win over German Carina Witthoeft and next plays Czech Marketa Vondrousova.

Other big-name winners early on day two included Czech sixth seed Karolina Pliskova, a 6-3 6-4 victory over Paraguayan Veronica Cepede Royg, and British ninth seed Johanna Konta, who crushed American Madison Brengle 6-3 6