Anastasya Pavlyuchenkova rallied from a set and a break down to beat 2017 US Open champion and 2013 Australian Open semifinalist Sloane Stephens 6-7 (3-7) 6-3 6-3 after two hours and 32 minutes reaching the quarter final at the Australian Open.
Pavlyuchenkova, who reached a career-high ranking of world number 13, qualified for the Australian Open quarter final for the second time in her career equalling her best result at this tournament two years ago. The Russian player has scored her 30th win over a top 10 player and her 13th win against a top 5.
Stephens converted her fourth break point in a four-deuce game on her fourth break point with a backhand winner and held her serve from0-40 to race out to a 3-0 lead. Pavlyuchenkova faced three break points at 0-40 at 1-4 but she saved them with series of forehands and a volley. Pavlyuchenkova broke back in the seventh game with a backhand pass before saving two break points to draw level to 4-4. Stephens sealed the first-set tie-break by 7-3, when Pavlyuchenkova made a double fault on the first set point.
Stephens went up a break lead and hit a backhand cross-court to back up her break for 2-0. Pavlyuchenkova came back from the early break down by winning six of the next seven games to convert her third set point and draw level to one set apiece.
Stephens saved eight break points to hold her serve in a 15-minute game at the start of the third set with a backhand down the line. Pavlyuchenkova held her serve at 15 to draw level to 1-1 in the second game. Pavlyuchenkova raced out to a 4-2 lead and broke serve at love for 5-2. Stephens broke at love, as Pavlyuchenkova was serving out for the match.
Pavlyuchenkova broke serve at 15 in the ninth game with a volley to seal the win on the second match point after 2 hours and 32 minutes in the early hours of Monday booking her spot in the quarter final, where she will face US player Danielle Collins for the first time in her career.
“Sloane started really well, more well, more aggressive than usual, so I was not quite ready. Being 1-4 down and 0-40 and always coming back took a lot of energy out of me, but by the end of the set I started to figure it out. I don’t know what to expect from the match against Danielle Collins. I have never played against her and didn’t know much about her until last year. Most of the girls were starting to discover her then, who is that girl ? Is she playing good ?.
