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| Version 4 | Version 5 |
|---|---|
| Williams stuns fifth seed Petrova | Williams stuns fifth seed Petrova |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Serena Williams proved she is a genuine title contender at the Australian Open by knocking out fifth seed Nadia Petrova in the third round. | Serena Williams proved she is a genuine title contender at the Australian Open by knocking out fifth seed Nadia Petrova in the third round. |
| The former world number one recovered from a disastrous first set to triumph 1-6 7-5 6-3 in a gripping encounter. | The former world number one recovered from a disastrous first set to triumph 1-6 7-5 6-3 in a gripping encounter. |
| Petrova looked poised to clinch victory when she roared through the first set and then served for the match at 5-4. | Petrova looked poised to clinch victory when she roared through the first set and then served for the match at 5-4. |
| But Williams produced a typically gritty fightback and eventually prevailed after more than two hours. | But Williams produced a typically gritty fightback and eventually prevailed after more than two hours. |
| News conference: Serena Williams | News conference: Serena Williams |
| The American said bravery was the key to her victory. | The American said bravery was the key to her victory. |
| "I've always gone for my shots in any type of pressure situation, and I am going to keep it up," said Williams. | "I've always gone for my shots in any type of pressure situation, and I am going to keep it up," said Williams. |
| "It doesn't matter - I think the more pressure I get, the tougher I get. | "It doesn't matter - I think the more pressure I get, the tougher I get. |
| She came up with some unbelievable returns Nadia Petrova | She came up with some unbelievable returns Nadia Petrova |
| "I was down 3-5 and on the verge of being out of the tournament, and I obviously didn't want that to happen. It was time to either move or lose." | "I was down 3-5 and on the verge of being out of the tournament, and I obviously didn't want that to happen. It was time to either move or lose." |
| The twice former champion will face Jelena Jankovic in the last 16 after the in-form Serb saw off Victoria Azarenka, of Belarus, 6-3 6-4. | |
| Short of match practice, Williams had been well below her best in her opening two matches and that form continued in the opening stages against the big-serving Petrova. | Short of match practice, Williams had been well below her best in her opening two matches and that form continued in the opening stages against the big-serving Petrova. |
| The Russian played solid tennis but she was grateful to 18 unforced errors from her opponent as she wrapped up the opening set in 19 minutes. | The Russian played solid tennis but she was grateful to 18 unforced errors from her opponent as she wrapped up the opening set in 19 minutes. |
| In a see-saw second set, Williams raced into a 3-0 lead but then lost five games in a row to stand on the brink of defeat. | In a see-saw second set, Williams raced into a 3-0 lead but then lost five games in a row to stand on the brink of defeat. |
| But the desperate situation brought out the best in the former world number one and at 4-5, she unleashed a string of punishing returns to get herself back into the match. | But the desperate situation brought out the best in the former world number one and at 4-5, she unleashed a string of punishing returns to get herself back into the match. |
| "She came up with some unbelievable returns," said Petrova later. | "She came up with some unbelievable returns," said Petrova later. |
| "She just went for the balls and she produced an unbelievable backhand winner up the line from far behind the court. That's what gave her confidence for the third set." | "She just went for the balls and she produced an unbelievable backhand winner up the line from far behind the court. That's what gave her confidence for the third set." |
| In an absorbing decider, Petrova clawed her way back from 0-2 down but Williams gritted her teeth again and clinched it when the fifth seed netted a service return. | In an absorbing decider, Petrova clawed her way back from 0-2 down but Williams gritted her teeth again and clinched it when the fifth seed netted a service return. |