Stosur outlasts Dementieva

Stosur: epic three-set victory

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Australia's Sam Stosur saved four match points on the way to a memorable fourth round victory over Elena Dementieva at the US Open.

Stosur won 6-3 2-6 7-6 (7-2) on the Arthur Ashe court in proved the latest-finishing women's match in the tournament's history.

The contest finally came to an end at 1.35am local time with Stosur's triumph ensuring she becomes the first Australian woman to reach the quarter-finals at Flushing Meadows since Wendy Turnbull in 1986.

The 26-year-old from Queensland had never previously been beyond the second round at the tournament, but ensured her adventure this year continued as she prevailed in two hours and 38 minutes.

A see-saw encounter saw no fewer than 15 breaks of serve as momentum shifted first one way and then the other.

Poised at one set all, Dementieva was first to secure a match point as she served at 5-3 40-30 in the decider, but she pushed a forward wide to earn Stosur a reprieve.

The Australian then force two break points and converted the second to stay alive as her opponent missed with another forehand.

That got her back on serve at 5-4, but she double-faulted at 30-30 to set up a second match point, which Dementieva wasted by sending a backhand long.

Two more match points came in that game, and Stosur saved both, managing to hold serve for 5-5.

The Australian then broke again to earn the chance to serve for the match but, despite earning two match points of her own, she was unable to convert and the match went into a decisive tie-break.

It was Stosur who controlled in, though, and having opened an early 3-0 lead she maintained her advantage to close out a fine win.

"When everyone stays out here and cheers and supports us like that, it couldn't be any better," said the French Open finalist after her success.

"I think we both played a great match. Went for it and gave it our best. To have a match like that here is just fantastic."