By Chris Oddo | Thursday January 19, 2017
Photo Source: Mark Peterson/Corleve
After back-to-back three-setters in her first two rounds, there seemed to be a growing prevailing sentiment that Angelique Kerber was struggling with form at this year’s Australian Open.
More: Vandeweghe Edges Bouchard to Reach Fourth Round
The World No.1 and defending champion dispelled that notion with her best performance of the tournament, a 6-0, 6-4 win over Kristyna Pliskova on Rod Laver Arena.
“It's great to have another good match on my belt and being in the fourth round again here,” Kerber said. “Yeah, it's great. I'm looking forward to the next one. Yeah, I think that I find my rhythm to the tournament now.”
Kerber ran into a bit of resistance from the Czech, who is the twin sister of No.5-seeded Karolina Pliskova, but she was able to pull away in the final two games to clinch her victory in 55 minutes.
Kerber converted five of six break points against the hard-serving southpaw to set up a round of 16 encounter with American CoCo Vandeweghe. The German holds a 2-0 lifetime edge over Vandeweghe, but knows she’ll have to be ready for the rising American.
“Coco is a tough opponent,” Kerber said. “She played good today. I saw the match a little bit before my match. I know that she's serving good, as well. I have to move good, being ready, bring a lot of balls back, but also being aggressive, as well, like I can play.”