Australia’s Samantha Stosur has reached the second round of the Brisbane International for just the second time in the past seven years.

The 35-year-old veteran showed all of her fighting qualities on Monday to defeat German Angelique Kerber 7-6 (7-5) 7-6 (7-4).

It’s the first time Stosur has reached the second round of her home event since 2016.

Stosur made a fantastic start to her year, racing to a 5-2 lead early in the first set.

Three-time grand slam champion Kerber rallied to force the set into a tiebreak however.

Down 5-1 early, Stosur rattled off the next six points to claim the opening set.

The second set was a battle of attrition, with neither woman able to break their opponent’s serve.

Kerber came closest to gaining the advantage, the former world No.1 pushing Stosur to a 10-minute service game before the Australian held on.

Despite her previous record of first-round disappointment in Brisbane, Stosur showed no nerves to close out the match in comfort and claim victory inside two hours.

It’s the fourth time in 10 meetings between the pair that Stosur has overcome Kerber but her first win over the German since 2015.

Stosur, who is on the same side of the draw as world No.1 Ashleigh Barty, will play the winner of the match between American eighth seed Madison Keys and Czech qualifier Marie Bouzkova in the second round.

Keys and Bouzkova will play on Tuesday.

Earlier Czech Republic’s Barbora Strycova upset British seventh seed Johanna Konta 6-2 3-6 6-3 to move into the second round.

Strycova will face American Alison Riske who defeated Czech Karolina Muchova 6-4 6-2.