Sharapova looking forward to Kerber test

Maria Sharapova is relishing the chance to take on Angelique Kerber in the third round.

It will be a meeting of the only two former champions in the draw, with Sharapova lifting the trophy a decade ago while Kerber was the winner in 2016.

The German endured a miserable 2017, slipping from world No 1 to outside the top 20, but she has been revitalised at the start of this season and is yet to lose a match.

Sharapova, still unseeded after returning from her 15-month doping ban, sees matches against the leading players as the best way to test her level.

She said: “I came back with no ranking. I’m around 50 in the world at this point, so I know I’m going to be facing seeded players, first, second, third round. She happens to be the next one that I have to play.

“I look forward to these matches. I want to be playing against opponents that are former grand slam champions. She’s had success playing out here in these conditions on these courts. I want to see whether I am on that level.”

Sharapova certainly seems to be enjoying returning to Australia for the first time since her failed doping test two years ago.

Her second round win was a satisfying one, with the Russian overcoming 14th seed Anastasija Sevastova, who had beaten her at the US Open, 6-1 7-6 (7-4).

Kerber, who defeated Donna Vekic 6-4 6-1, said: “We both played in the past a lot of good matches. I know that I have to play my best tennis again.”

Wimbledon champion Garbine Muguruza was the latest big name to tumble out, the Spaniard losing 7-6 (7-1) 6-4 to world No 88 Hsieh Su-wei of Chinese Taipei.

Eighth seed Caroline Garcia beat teenager Marketa Vondrousova 6-7 (3-7) 6-2 8-6, while Karolina Pliskova and Madison Keys eased through.