Francesca Schiavone is through to the quarter-finals of the Australian Open after outlasting Svetlana Kuznetsova in a marathon match.
Italian edges record-breaking marathon encounter
Francesca Schiavone is through to the quarter-finals of the Australian Open after outlasting Svetlana Kuznetsova in a marathon match.
The French Open champion edged the four-hour and 44-minute epic with a 4-6 6-1 16-14 triumph in a contest that will live long in the memory for those on Hisense Arena.
"It is a fantastic moment for me," said the sixth seed afterwards. "It is one of the most emotional moments of my life. I just told myself to keep going, do it with the heart and go for it."
In a clash that shattered the women's record for the longest at a grand slam in the open era, the Melbourne Park crowd was treated to a third set of unrelenting tension.
The 30-year-old Schiavone saved six match points en route to capturing the decisive break at 14-14 after reaching desperately for a crosscourt volley that left Kuznetsova flat-footed at the net.
Kuznetsova saved two match points with a baseline winner and a sharp return but the Russian could not save the third, as Schiavone wrapped up the three-hour final set with a forehand volley.
Schiavone will next play top seed Caroline Wozniacki who recorded another straight sets victory in beating Anastasija Sevastova.
Shock
Former world number one Maria Sharapova suffered a fourth round shock when she was bundled out 6-2 6-3 by Germany's Andrea Petkovic.
On the back foot from the start, Sharapova committed 30 unforced errors in a performance which underlined her struggles since her shoulder surgery in late 2008, the year she won the title in Melbourne.
Fourteenth seed Sharapova, a three-times grand slam champion, made a late charge from 2-0 down in the second set, saving two match points with a pair of rocket forehands.
But the Russian had dug herself too big a hole against a dangerous opponent and Petkovic completed victory in 79 minutes with a deep serve Sharapova could only push into the net.
Sharapova's exit means there will be a new champion at this year's Australian Open.
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