If you’re a betting person, don’t bother putting your money on Eugenie Bouchard at the upcoming Australian Open.

The Canadian’s poor start to the summer continued on Wednesday with a 6-1 6-3 loss to German Angelique Kerber at the Hopman Cup.

Bouchard entered the match with a 4-2 head-to-head advantage over Kerber.

But the former world No.5 had no answers to the dual grand slam winner in a match that lasted just 57 minutes.

World No.4 Alexander Zverev can secure the tie win over Canada with victory over Vasek Pospisil.

Bouchard also lost her opening Hopman Cup singles match – a 6-1 6-4 loss to Australian Daria Gavrilova.

Now ranked 83rd in the world following a lean few years, Bouchard isn’t expecting much in the early part of 2018.

“I barely played any matches the last six months of the past year. It’s been a long time without a lot of matches,” Bouchard said.

“I changed my team in the off season and I have been working on a lot of different things. It’s definitely a long-term look

“I can’t worry about it. I’m trying to do my best. I’m just enjoying myself out there. That’s the most important thing.

“I’m not really putting expectations on myself for the beginning of this year. There are just so many changes going on right now.”

Kerber needed just 22 minutes to win the opening set, and the former world No.1 raced out to a 2-0 lead in the second set.

Bouchard finally found some form and had a chance to go up a break.

But when Kerber saved four break points and then broke Bouchard in the next game, the contest was effectively over.

Bouchard said the 10am start time was too early for her.

“It was a bit of the same pattern as the first match. I think I need to wake up in the first set. It’s because we’re playing too early – 10 is too early for me,” she said.

“I felt like I made a few too many errors here and there.

“I felt like I was a bit streaky today. In the good moments, it was good. But the bad moments weren’t so good. It’s just about trying to be a bit more consistent.”

Kerber was happy with her start to the Hopman Cup, which also included a win over Belgium’s Elise Mertens.

“After such a long break where you are not playing matches, you actually don’t know when you are standing when you play a real match,” Kerber said.

“So right now, it’s feeling better than a week ago.”