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Angelique Kerber destroys Kimberly Birrell to continue hunt for second Australian Open title

Birthday girl Angelique Kerber celebrates her victory - AFP
Birthday girl Angelique Kerber celebrates her victory - AFP

Birthday girl Angelique Kerber thrashed Australian wild card Kimberly Birrell 6-1 6-0 to reach the fourth round of the Australian Open on Friday and complete a late-night horror show for the locals at Rod Laver Arena.

On the day of her 31st birthday, the German former champion has enjoyed a stellar start at Melbourne Park and 240th-ranked Birrell had nowhere to hide in front of a packed centre court crowd.

The match followed Rafael Nadal's straight sets demolition of Australian No. 1 Alex De Minaur.

Roaring through the first set in 27 minutes, Kerber's procession was held up briefly as Birrell saved three match points.

Yet the former world No. 1 made no mistake on the fourth, rushing forward to hammer a forehand winner down the line to set up a fourth-round match against the unseeded American Danielle Collins.

12:02PM

Game, set and match! Kerber defeats Birrell 6-1, 6-0

Like Nadal against De Minaur earlier, Kerber struggles to serve the match out. But after throwing away a 40-0 lead, she takes her fourth match point and ends a chastening evening for Birrell after just 58 minutes. That was a monstrous showing from Kerber, who looks in excellent shape to replicate her success here from 2016.

Next up for Kerber will be a fourth-round match against the unseeded American Danielle Collins on Sunday.  

11:56AM

Kerber* 6-1, 5-0 Birrell (*next server)

A frazzled Birrell stops a point mid-rally to challenge a ball that was comfortably in. Kerber goes on to produce some more sensational defence, and breaks to 15. She will serve for the match.  

11:51AM

Kerber 6-1, 4-0 Birrell* (*next server)

Birrell ends the run of 15 straight service points for Kerber to go up 0-30. Kerber responds by reeling off the next four to complete another hold.

11:48AM

Kerber* 6-1, 3-0 Birrell (*next server) - Kerber breaks

Again it's a case of so near and yet so far for Birrell. She misses a sitter of a volley at 30-30 and is then broken on the next point. It might sound crazy to say given the scoreline, but Birrell really isn't playing that badly!

Australia's Kimberly Birrell makes a backhand return to Germany's Angelique Kerber during their third round match at the Australian Open tennis championships in Melbourne, Australia, Friday, Jan. 18, 2019 - Credit: AP
Credit: AP

11:43AM

Kerber 6-1, 2-0 Birrell* (*next server)

Merciless from Kerber, battering away a backhand winner up the line for 40-0. Fifteen straight points on serve for Kerber.

11:40AM

Kerber* 6-1, 1-0 Birrell (*next server) - Kerber breaks

Birrell does brilliantly to fend off three beak points with some courageous hitting, but she cracks on the fourth and sends a backhand wide. Kerber, who celebrates her 31st birthday today, has won four games in a row, and is a set and a break up.

11:30AM

Kerber 6-1 Birrell* (*next server) - First set Kerber

This is scarily good from Kerber. She's serving well and the forehand is working beautifully. Another love hold makes it 12 consecutive points, and that's the first set after just 27 minutes. 

11:28AM

Kerber* 5-1 Birrell (*next server) - Kerber breaks

Oh dear, Birrell serves consecutive double faults and is broken to love. Kerber has won eight straight points and will serve for the first set. 

Germany's Angelique Kerber hits a return against Australia's Kimberly Birrell during their women's singles match on day five of the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne on January 18, 2019 - Credit: AFP
Credit: AFP

11:23AM

Kerber 4-1 Birrell* (*next server)

Kerber showcases her world-class athleticism by running down a Birrell forehand and launching an impossible looking crosscourt backhand winner. An ace down the T then seals a love hold.

11:21AM

Kerber* 3-1 Birrell (*next server)

Birrell deservedly gets on the scoreboard when Kerber nets a forehand return to complete a hold to 15.

11:16AM

Kerber 3-0 Birrell* (*next server)

This is why my wife hates the tennis scoring system, and why many others love it. Birrell has been competitive in all three of the games so far, but finds herself on the wrong end of a 3-0 scoreline. On this occasion, Kerber battles back from 15-30 to claim a hold to 30.

Germany's Angelique Kerber plays a return to Australia's Kimberly Birrell during their third round match at the Australian Open tennis championships in Melbourne, Australia, Friday, Jan. 18, 2019 - Credit: AP
Credit: AP

11:14AM

Kerber* 2-0 Birrell (*next server) - Kerber breaks

It's hard to believe that Birrell is ranked No. 240 in the world, some 239 places below her illustrious opponent. She's certainly playing above her level here, confidently racing to a 40-15 lead. Kerber, though, reminds her opponent why she's probably the toughest player on the tour and fights back to deuce before eventually claiming the break. A bit tough that on Birrell, but that's what she's up against today.

11:04AM

Kerber 1-0 Birrell* (*next server)

Some big hitting from both players in a first game that goes Kerber's way with a hold to 30.

11:02AM

Ready? Play

Kerber serving first to get us under way.

10:58AM

Players are out

Kerber and Birrell have taken to Rod Laver Arena, and they'll be getting under way after a short warm-up.

10:43AM

Game, set and match Nadal

The 2009 men's champions Rafael Nadal has just beaten Alex de Minaur 6-1, 6-2, 6-4 so next on court will be the 2016 winner Angelique Kerber and the Australian wild card Kimberly Birrell.

10:17AM

Recap: How Kerber made it through to round three

German second seed Angelique Kerber easily won the battle of left-handers against big-hitting Brazilian qualifier Beatriz Haddad Maia 6-2 6-3 to stroll into the third round of the Australian Open on Wednesday.

The Wimbledon champion broke the 22-year-old Haddad Maia twice in the opening set and converted her first set point when the Brazilian sent a forehand wide for her 29th unforced error in the set.

Kerber, a triple Grand Slam champion who won in Melbourne in 2016, faced just one breakpoint in the match in the second set and converted her first opportunity in the eighth game to go 5-3 up and serve for the set.

"I think it was a good match from my side. I was trying to play aggressive from the first point until the last one, serving good, really focusing on the moment on court," Kerber told reporters.

"I think I was playing good, especially in the second set, it was a little bit close."

The strongly-built six-feet tall Brazilian saved 10 breakpoints in the first set, six of them in the sixth game for a hold, and hit more winners than Kerber. However, she was undone by her erratic shot making.

Haddad Maia cut down on her unforced errors in the second set and made Kerber work harder as the rallies grew longer. The second set went on serve till Kerber broke to go up when Haddad Maia sent a forehand wide.

Another wide forehand groundstroke from the Brazilian gave Kerber the match on the Rod Laver Arena.

"She's also a lefty, so it's always a little bit different to play. Then she was serving good. She really hits the ball hard and tough," Kerber added.

"So I was trying to get a lot of balls back. Also, like I said, being aggressive. I think she's a good player, she really played well."

Former world number one Kerber will today meet Australian wildcard Kimberly Birrell, who earlier ousted 29th seeded Donna Vekic 6-4 4-6 6-1, while also celebrating her 31st birthday.

"Maybe it's a good omen to play on my birthday," Kerber said.

We'll soon find out.