Angelique Kerber to kick off 2017 campaign at Brisbane International

Johannesburg [South Africa], Sept.29 (ANI): Newly-crowned world number one Angelique Kerber will return to the Brisbane International to kick start her 2017 campaign, the tournament organisers have confirmed. The German star emerged as the runner-up to Victoria Azarenka in Brisbane this year before she clinched her maiden Grand Slam title at the Australian Open. Admitting that Brisbane kicked off the `best season of her career` this year, Kerber emphasized that such kind of tournaments help in preparing a player better ahead of the major events. "You have to play tournaments that will prepare you for the big moments, which for me, was winning the Australian Open and going on to be the number one player in the world," the 28-year-old was quoted as saying by Sport24. The two-time Grand Slam champion will be joined by world number three and reigning French Open champion Garbine Muguruza in the women's singles draw. Earlier, Kerber dethroned long-standing incumbent American Serena Williams at the top of the world rankings after lifting her maiden US Open title with a straight-sets victory over 10th-seeded Karolina Pliskova of Czech Republic. The Brisbane International is slated to take place from January 1 to January 8. (ANI)