Angelique Kerber has survived a huge scare against Lesia Tsurenko to keep her Australian Open title defence on track.

World No.1 Kerber lost her way midway through her round-one Rod Laver Arena clash on Monday night with the Ukrainian, ranked 50 places lower, but rallied to a 6-2 5-7 6-2 win.

Last year’s Australian Open win was Kerber’s breakthrough grand slam title, before she went on to also clinch the US Open crown.