Dinara Safina saved two match points to beat Alize Cornet 6-2 2-6 7-5 in the fourth-round of the Australian Open on Sunday.
Third seed stays in tune to beat French teenager
World number three Dinara Safina saved two match points and won the last five games in an extraordinary comeback to beat French teenager Alize Cornet 6-2 2-6 7-5 in the fourth round of the Australian Open on Sunday.
The 15th seed was on the verge of a huge upset when she recovered from losing the first to lead 5-2 in the third until her game suddenly fell apart under a ferocious attack from the Russian.
Cornet twice failed to serve out the match and squandered two match points in the 10th game as Safina's more aggressive approach paid dividends as she earned her first quarter-final appearance in Melbourne.
"I played like a junior today, it's just lucky that I went through," said Safina, who racked up 52 unforced errors during the match and 21 alone in the third set.
"I guess she was just not ready to beat me. I was just hanging in there.
"There was nothing special that I did - on match point I hit a winner but it's her unforced errors (that proved decisive)."
Agonising
Cornet, who was aiming to reach her first grand slam quarter-final, came agonisingly close to clinching victory on her second match-point when a forehand down the line was called out.
She challenged the call but the replay confirmed she had missed the line by a few centimetres.
"The ball was really close," Cornet said. "I really wish it was in. This (match result) was really a tough, tough loss. I'm going to think about it for a long time.
"I really tried my best, so I have nothing to regret."
Despite failing to reach her own expectations during the match, Safina has not given up hope of winning the title down under.
She plays either Jelena Dokic or Alisa Kleybanova in the quarter-finals on Tuesday knowing there are just two other players in the top six still left in the women's draw.
"For me it's the first time I'm actually in the quarters. I've never had great results here, so I'm pleased," Safina added.
"Maybe this is the way I play in Australia, I don't know, but on the other hand, it's just the first grand slam and nobody's playing great."
