The German, ranked as the number one tennis player in the world, headed into the first Grand Slam of the year with doubts over her form, after early exits at warm-up tournaments in Brisbane and Sydney.

Kerber appeared to push any concerns to the side as she triumphed 6-2 in the opening set of the match, and she looked on course to ease into round two when she went 4-2 up in the second.

Her opponent, the world number 51, had other ideas though and broke twice to level the match and force a decider.

As the tension continued to build, Kerber began to regain control of the game, with the German breaking in the fifth and seventh games to eventually wrap up a 6-2, 5-7, 6-2 victory.

While Kerber avoided a surprise exit, world number four Simona Halep was beaten at the first round stage for the second consecutive year.

The Romanian saw her challenge come to an end against Shelby Rogers, with the American winning 6-3, 6-1.

In the men's draw, the main contenders for the title were all given stern tests in their first round matches, but all eventually emerged unscathed.

World number one Sir Andy Murray was forced to battle against Illya Marchenko, but Britain’s five-time runner-up would secure a 7-5, 7-6, 6-2 win against the Ukrainian.

Switzerland’s Roger Federer continued his comeback from a knee injury, which ruled him out of the final six months of the 2016 season, when he faced Austria’s Jurgen Melzer.

The four-time champion was understandably below his usual high standards, but the Swiss star eventually triumphed 7-5, 3-6, 6-2, 6-2.

Federer’s compatriot Stan Wawrinka, the 2014 Australian Open champion, came the closest out of the top seeds to suffer defeat as he was forced to play five sets against Martin Klizan.

He would eventually beat the Slovakian 4-6, 6-4, 7-5, 4-6, 6-4.

Defending champion Novak Djokovic will begin his pursuit of a sixth title in seven years tomorrow when the Serbian takes on Spain’s Fernando Verdasco.