MELBOURNE: Estonia's
Kaia Kanepi
rallied from a set down to topple world number two
Aryna Sabalenka
5-7, 6-2, 7-6(10) on Margaret Court Arena in a tight contest on Monday to reach the
Australian Open
quarter-finals for the first time.
Having surrendered the opening set for three matches in a row, Sabalenka took a one-set lead for the first time in Melbourne but was unable to build on it as her serving issues resurfaced once again.
Kanepi was gifted a double break early in the second set with back-to-back double faults from her 23-year-old opponent and did not waste the opportunity as she cruised to a 4-0 lead before taking the set.
The 36-year-old carried that momentum into the decider and looked set to go 5-3 up but Sabalenka saved four break points to hold for 3-4 and level it, before suffering a service meltdown again and hitting three double faults in four points.
Kanepi was made to work for her victory after being unable to close the match from 40-0 up as Sabalenka saved four matchpoints, but the Estonian prevailed in the tiebreak and converted her fifth matchpoint to complete the upset.
Kanepi will take on Polish seventh seed
Iga Swiatek
, who beat
Sorana Cirstea
5-7 6-3 6-3 earlier on Monday, for a place in the last four.
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