Night 5 of Australian Open 2019, and second match of the session on Rod Laver Arena was:
Wildcard Kimberly Birrell (AUS) v Angie Kerber (2) (GER)
Kerber served first, a couple of forehand winners, and she held for 1-0.
Birrell led 40-15, but errors gave Kerber break point. This vanished, but another came with an Australian double fault. Once more, it went nowhere, but then two successive unforced errors from Birrell gifted the break to Kerber who led 2-0.
Kerber consolidated after trailing 15-30, moving further ahead 3-0. Birrell held serve with an ace and a trio of Kerber unforced errors. 1-3.
A Kerber love game, including an ace and backhand winner, saw her lead grow to 4-1.
Two double faults and Birrell down three break points. A Kerber forehand on the first took her to 5-1.
30-0 when serving for the set, following an ace and winning forehand. On the first of three set points, Birrell was forced into forehand error.
Kerber led 6-1.
The opening game of set two had four deuces, and Birrell saved three break points. However, two unforced backhand errors gave the game to Kerber who led 1-0.
A fast love game from the second seed and 2-0, before another service break, despite two Birrell backhand winners. 3-0 to Kerber.
From 0-30, Kerber hit a forehand winner, and then three forehand unforced mistakes resulted in a service hold and a 4-0 advantage for Kerber.
Birrell was clearly overwhelmed by the occasion, and more errors cost her another service game.
At 5-0 Kerber served for the match.
Three match points arrived quickly, but two double faults and a Birrell winner brought it back to deuce. Kerber steadied things with two winning forehands to take the match.
Angie Kerber won 6-1 6-0, and will play Danielle Collins in the round of sixteen.
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