The match proved to be a tightly fought affair, with the 23-year-old Czech player eventually able to claim the opening set 7-5 to take control against the second seed.

Despite Kerber battling strongly in the second, she could not claw herself back into the contest as she was beaten 7-5 to see her challenge come to a premature end.

Former world number one Caroline Wozniacki also made a surprisingly early exit from the tournament, with the Dane falling to a 4-6, 7-6, 7-5 defeat to China’s Shuai Zhang.

In a clash of two of the rising stars of the game, Canada’s Eugenie Bouchard ended the challenge of America’s Sloane Stephens.

Bouchard, who made the Wimbledon final in 2014, struggled last season but continued her upward trajectory by sealing a 7-5, 7-5 win in a battle of the 22-year-old players.

In the men’s draw, Britain’s Andy Murray enjoyed smooth progression to the third round as he overcame Spain’s Marcel Granollers 6-4, 7-5.

"It was very different conditions to what I have been practicing and playing in during the past five weeks, against a tough, unorthodox player," said Murray, a two-time Grand Slam champion and Olympic gold medallist.

"He's got quite a different game.

He's a very smart player, as well, an intelligent player, and often he makes the right decisions.

"He made it tough for me."

Switzerland’s Stan Wawrinka crusied to a 6-3, 6-2 win over Ukraine’s Illya Marchenko, while the Czech Republic’s Tomas Berdych defeated Juan Martin Del Potro 7-6, 6-2.

The loss will come as a blow to the Argentine player, who won the US Open in 2009, as he continues to recover from nearly two years of wrist problems.