Kerber advances to 3 round of the australian open 2017

So when Angelique Kerber rung in her 29th with a get-out-of-jail performance at Rod Laver Arena on Wednesday, a more relaxing end to the day would have topped her wish list.

Blowing out 29 candles on a cake was far from Kerber’s mind when the world No.1 let slip a straight-sets match-winning position before digging her way out of trouble in three sets.

It made for a nerve-racking day at the office before she claimed an all-German battle against Carina Witthoeft 6-2 6-7(3) 6-2.

This was an opponent Kerber had double-bagelled in the first round at Wimbledon less than two years ago.

But to world No.89 Witthoeft’s credit, hers was a performance which lifted with her back to the wall.

“I'm trying, you know, to play more aggressive. But today, I was doing a few more mistakes,” Kerber said.