Irina-Camelia Begu has caused the second major shock on day one of the Australian Open by registering a three-set win over ninth seed Angelique Kerber.

After Ana Ivanovic suffered a surprise defeat earlier on Monday, Begu overcome a second-set whitewash to run out a 6-4 0-6 6-1 victor over her experienced opponent.

Kerber, who has never reached the last eight in Melbourne, soon found herself on the defensive against the world number 42 and although both players struggled to hold serve, she found herself a set behind to the Romanian.

However, the second proved much better for Kerber, who raced through it in 29 minutes without conceding a game as Begu struggled to maintain the high level of the opening set.

With Kerber in the ascendancy, it seemed a long way back for the unseeded player but the 24-year-old, who lost her previous contest with the German in 2013, broke twice for a 5-1 advantage.

Kerber had a glimmer of an opening at 30-30 but two aggressive points from Begu ensured that she wrapped up a shock triumph.