Melbourne – Angelique Kerber’s Grand Slam comeback ended with a whimper in the first round of the Australian Open on Tuesday as the new mum fell to Danielle Collins in three sets.
In her first major after an 18-month maternity break, the German battled hard but fell to the Melbourne Park 2022 finalist 6-2, 3-6, 6-1.
Unseeded Collins will now play world number one Igu Swiatek.
Collins broke three times in the first set, but three-time major winner Kerber bounced back.
The 35-year-old German saved two break points in the sixth game of the second set, then served her break point in the next game, with Collins double-faulting to give the German a 4-3 lead.
It was the glimmer of hope the 2016 Australian Open champion needed as he raced through the next two games to level the match.
But Collins kept coming and got the decisive break in the third game of the third set when she broke twice more to race home.
Reunited with longtime coach Torben Beltz, Kerber’s return from maternity leave has been rocky, losing four of five matches at the United Cup before defeating Collins.
