NEW YORK, NY, USA – No.2 seeded Angelique Kerber started out her US Open campaign with a comfortable win against Polona Hercog, who retired from the match down 6-0, 1-0.

“To be honest, it’s never the way I would like to finish the match, but I went out there to feel my rhythm and start the tournament well.I played the first set really good, so this is what I will take from this match, that I’m playing my tennis,” Kerber said after the match.

“For me, it’s always tricky the first few rounds.So it’s always good to have the first round done.Just now focusing on the next rounds.”

The 28-year-old lefty, who is the WTA’s match win leader as well as the hardcourt win leader, is bidding to win her second Grand Slam title in 2016, a feat which would see her potentially unseat Serena Williams and reach the WTA’s No.1 ranking.

“I mean, for sure I want to be one day No. 1, I think this is a goal from everybody, especially also for me,” Kerber said. “But I will not putting too much pressure on myself like I said a lot of times, because I know that when I put the pressure I’m not playing my tennis then.

“You know, I will go out there to win every match going step by step.If the day will come someday it will be amazing.But, yeah, just let’s see.I have to win few more matches.”

She’s got one match in the bag already against Hercog, who has not won a hardcourt match since February. The Slovakian player seemed to wilt under the harsh heat and dropped the opening set after just 29 minutes. After a medical time out, Hercog tried to continue against Kerber but was forced to withdraw from the match citing dizziness.

She’ll face Mirjana Lucic-Baroni in the second round after the Croat ousted Alizé Cornet 6-4, 6-1.