Defending champion Kerber outclasses tricky compatriot at Wimbledon

LONDON (Reuters) - Defending champion Angelique Kerber needed to call upon all her cunning and experience to navigate her way 6-4 6-3 through an awkward first-round encounter with German compatriot Tatjana Maria on Tuesday.

Tennis - Wimbledon - All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, London, Britain - July 2, 2019 Germany's Angelique Kerber in action during her first round match against Germany's Tatjana Maria - Reuters

The three-times Grand Slam champion has enjoyed mixed fortunes since beating Serena Williams in the final last year, dropping to fifth in the standings, and went out in the first round of the French Open last month.

The pair, at 31 of the same generation of German tennis players, embraced warmly at the net.

Kerber, with 29, has won more grasscourt matches than any other woman on the circuit over the last four years and last week reached the final of the Eastbourne tournament where she lost to powerful hitter Karolina Pliskova.

She will play 96th-ranked Lauren Davis of the United States in the second round.