Angelique Kerber, the former world number one won the Sydney International by defeating home favourite Ashleigh Barty 6-4 6-4 in the final.
After disappointing 2017, German Kerber is ranked 22nd but so far this season, she has won all nine of her matches. The 2016 Australian Open and US Open winner said: “I am playing amazing tennis again and I am just feeling great.’’
Roberto Bautista Agut won the Auckland Classic and Elise Mertens won in Hobart.
In next week’s build up for Australian Open, Bautista Agut defeated Argentine Juan Martin del Potro 6-1 4-6 7-5 to win the tournament in New Zealand for a second time.
Before the rival took the second, the 29-year-old won the first set in 31 minutes as he broke Del Potro three times. Bautista Agut converted the second of his break points in the third to take a 6-5 lead and then held serve to seal victory.
Bautista Agut said: “It was an unbelievable match. I have been fighting all week and felt like I wasn’t playing good tennis but today I did. Juan Martin is very tough to beat and I think I just played two amazing games at the end of the match.”
Mertens beat Mihaela Buzarnescu of Romania 6-1 4-6 6-3 to successfully defend her Hobart International title. The final was interrupted by two rain breaks but Mertens kept her composure to serve out for victory.
