LONDON, Great Britain - Defending champion Angelique Kerber kicked off her 2019 Wimbledon campaign with a decisive win over compatriot Tatjana Maria, advancing into the second round, 6-4. 6-3.

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"It's the first time I've come back as the defending champion," she said in her post-match press conference. "I'm trying to enjoying it, as well, to enjoy the moments on court but as well even more off-site."

The former World No.1 captured her third Grand Slam title at this tournament with a win over Serena Williams in the final, and won an eighth straight match at the All England Club after 80 minutes on Centre Court.

"I was really nervous, to be honest, because of course to going out there as the defending champion, it was really special. Walking on the Centre Court playing there again, I mean, a lot of emotions, a lot of memories.

"But I was enjoying this. I was really enjoying the match. I was enjoying the points and the crowd. It was a really, yeah, nice match, but of course with a lot of nerves at the beginning."

Coming off a stellar 2018 season, Kerber has endured inconsistent results this year but came alive at the start of the grass court swing, reaching the Mallorca Open semifinals and the Nature Valley International final in Eastbourne.

"I think it helps that I played few tournaments before Wimbledon. I got my confidence back playing on grass, playing good matches against good opponents, feeling my rhythm."

Across the net was Maria, who has played her best tennis since giving birth to daughter Charlotte in 2013, earning a career-high ranking of No.46 last year and stunning then-World No.5 Elina Svitolina in the first round of last year's Wimbledon Championships.

"We've practiced a few times together. I was prepared for a match like this because I know she is playing very tricky, especially with the slice on both sides.

"You need a lot of patience. You have to go for it, hitting the ball. The serve was important today, but also playing every single point. I know she is playing until the last point. She's always trying to come back, trying to doing her best with her style of game."

The Germans were facing one another for the first time since 2009, where it was Maria who won in straight sets on clay, and the pair exchanged early breaks on Tuesday as Kerber, seeded No.5, returned to the site of one of her biggest successes.


Maria rallied from a 2-4 deficit but Kerber was undaunted, breaking straight back and serving out the set on her first opportunity.

More breaks were exchanged to start the second set and Maria halted Kerber as she was poised for a double-break lead in the fifth game, reversing a 0-40 hole and leveling the set at three games apiece.

Kerber steadied once more, edging ahead to within one game of victory and secured victory with a thunderous passing shot.

"It is a huge experience for me. Coming back as the defending champion, to see the names on the wall, like my name on the wall, the pictures, to having the opportunity to study it.

"I think that gives me much more experience for the next years, for the next months as a person, as a tennis player. It's always great that you can still learn few things, something new, something special."

In all, the No.5 seed played a solid match with 11 winners to 12 unforced errors and played clean tennis when it mattered most, converting three of four break point opportunities. 

Up next for the defending champion is American Lauren Davis, who is into the main draw as a lucky loser and won her first round match against Kateryna Kozlova earlier in the day.