Battle-hardened former Australian Open champion and world No.1 Angelique Kerber is intent on continuing her 2018 winning streak against Venus Williams in the second round of the Sydney International.
Kerber set up the blockbuster second-round date after saving two match points during a tense second-set tiebreaker against Lucie Safarova, eventually reigning over the crafty Czech 6-7 (7-3) 7-6 (10-8) 6-2 at Olympic Park on Monday.
The resurgent German conceded Safarova had made nothing easy for her during a battle twice delayed by a thunderstorm.
"We had the heat, the rain, everything," Kerber said.
"But I was expecting a really tough battle against Lucie, every single game was really close - it was a big fight.
"Especially also, I just came yesterday from Perth so it was really a big change with the hours, with the weather, with everything, actually.
"So I'm quite happy that I won it at the end."
The victory extended Kerber's summer winning streak to five matches after an unbeaten singles run at the Hopman Cup, one she'll attempt to continue against seven-time grand slam champion Williams on Tuesday.
"I will try, but she played some amazing tennis last year," she said.
"She had a lot of confidence. She's always strong, especially here. I think she's feeling good here.
"For sure it will be an intense match from both of us."
Kerber's win halted another day of carnage at the Open tune-up event.
Earlier, reigning US Open champion Sloane Stephens and eighth seed Anastasija Sevastova both lost their opening matches.
Italian qualifier Camila Giorgi swatted aside sixth-seeded Stephens 6-3 6-0 in 65 minutes to book a second-round showdown with dual Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova.
Stephens' swift exit in her first tournament of the year leaves the world No.13 alarmingly underdone heading into next week's Australian Open in Melbourne.
But the 24-year-old is by no means the only big-name women's player showing a lack of form entering the season-opening grand slam.
Sevastova is also on her way to Melbourne after falling 6-3 6-1 to former Open runner-up Dominika Cibulkova.
French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko, the world No.7, and the 11th-ranked Kristina Mladenovic also both bombed out in the first round on Sunday.
Australia's big summer hope Ashleigh Barty posted her first win of the summer, grinding out a 6-3 6-4 victory over Paraguayan qualifier Veronica Cepede Royg to draw a line under last week's first-round loss in Brisbane.
The world No.19 next faces Sydney wildcard Ellen Perez, ensuring at least one Australian in the quarter-finals.
Kvitova advanced, winning the first set 6-1 before Mirjana Lucic-Baroni retired.
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