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Angelique Kerberis back in Australia with a new perspective and different expectations.

The world No. 1 launches her season at the Brisbane International against either wild card Ashleigh Barty or qualifier Aleksandra Krunic. Kerber faces more scrutiny before matches and more pressure during matches as she prepares to launch defense of her Australian Open title.

Watch: Ana Ivanovic Retires

“I think it will be a completely different year than 2016,” Kerber said. “There are a lot of challenges that I have now, and I think I’m ready. Of course the pressure is there but it’s a different pressure now.”


 

World No.1 gets it in 1! @angie.kerber nails the #BottleFlipChallenge 🙌 #BottleFlip #WaterBottleChallenge #BrisbaneTennis

A video posted by Brisbane International (@brisbanetennis) on



A year ago, Kerber arrived in Brisbane as world No. 10 and used a pair of first-round comebacks as a springboard to her Australian Open success.

Kerber came back from a set down in her 2016 Brisbane opener beating Camila Giorgi, 5 -7, 6-3, 6-0 en route to the final where she lost to Victoria Azarenka.

Two weeks later, Kerber fought off a match point in her Australian Open opener rallying past Misaki Doi 6-7 (4), 7-6 (6), 6-3. Kerber went on to defeat Azarenka, Johanna Konta and Serena Williams in succession to capture her first Grand Slam title in Melbourne.

“Starting here with my first round where I played on court one, I think, and I lost the first set,” Kerber said. “Then we had a rain delay and I came back after losing the first set and I won that match. So this was the start of my journey in 2016, here in Australia, because then I played every single round better and better.

“And then, of course, the final against Vika here was not bad and I went to Melbourne with a lot of confidence."

Photo credit: Brisbane International Facebook


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