Kerber happy after Brisbane progression

Germany’s Angelique Kerber wants matches, and plenty of them, to build up her game before this month’s Australian Open.

The fifth seed became the first woman into the quarter-finals of the Brisbane International on Tuesday, defeating Russian-born Australian Daria Gavrilova 6-3 7-5 at Pat Rafter Arena.

While half of the eight seeds in the women’s draw are already out of the tournament, Kerber says spending as much time on court before the first grand slam of the year is crucial.

A US Open and Wimbledon semi-finalist, Kerber has never got past the fourth round at Melbourne Park.

The world No.9, who turns 27 on January 18, says going deep in her first tournament of the season was a key part of her Australian Open preparations.

“It’s good to have a lot of matches because we had a long break,” Kerber said.

“Just practice and points when you’re practising … it’s much different when you go out there. You are nervous and you play again on the centre court.

“The key is to have good matches, tough matches, before the first grand slam of the year.”

Kerber will now play either Australian-based Croatian Alja Tomljanovic or Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina in the quarter-finals.

Tomljanovic, who upset sixth seed and former world No.1 Jelena Jankovic in the second round, plays Svitolina later on Tuesday.

In other matches on Tuesday, American Varvara Lepchenko eliminated 19-year-old compatriot Madison Keys to reach the last eight.

Keys had caused a stir with her elimination of world No.10 and fourth seed Dominika Cibulkova in the first round but bowed out to Lepchenko, beaten 6-4 6-4.

Lepchenko will now face the winner of the second round clash between Russia’s Alla Kudryavtseva and Czech Karolina Pliskova.

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