Carla Suarez Navarro booked a third Australian Open quarterfinal ticket, battling back from the brink to seal a 4-6 6-4 8-6 win over 32nd seed Anett Kontaveit.
The world No.39 was a set and 1-4 down, before mounting a staggering revival over two hours and 17 minutes on Rod Laver Arena.
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"I try to be focused all the time and try to play my game, that’s it,” the Spaniard said. “It was tough because she started very well and I had to fight. I’m really happy to be in the next round.”
“I feel really good right now (on court). I was at this stage two years ago, so I'm happy. Always when you reach the quarterfinals or the finals round, you must be happy."
Kontaveit was the assertive player in the opening exchanges, eager to step in and utilise her powerplay.
The 22-year-old was patient and converted a fourth break point to lead 3-2 with a rasping forehand winner.
Kontaveit, who navigated past world No.7 Jelena Ostapenko in the third round, missiled another forehand down the line to dismiss break point and consolidated the break with a perfectly executed drop shot.
Suarez Navarro, twice a quarterfinalist at Melbourne Park, wielded a trademark backhand past the Estonian to chalk up two break points, but the defiant Kontaveit maintained the aggression to clinch the opener with a 22nd winner.
An acute angled cross court backhand winner was the spark as the 32nd seed maintained her dominance to surge to 4-1 and onto the cusp of victory with a double break.
“I tried to be more aggressive,” the 29-year-old said. “I was thinking that I was playing good, but not on the front foot enough. I want to play like this, but sometimes you cannot.
“My team all the time they will say me, ‘play aggressive, play aggressive.’ That's I think what I did to turn it around.”
The tension closing out the memorable win was evident, as the Kontaveit strokes tightened.
A gruelling 23-shot rally culminated with a Suarez Navarro inside out forehand winner on the turn, as the Spanish No.2 rattled through five straight games to push a decider.
The third set incrementally ratcheted up the tension, but neither player could secure a meaningful opening.
At 4-4 Konatveit was drawn out wide, but undeterred the Estonian let fly with a blistering cross court forehand winner, with the chance to serve out a maiden major quarterfinal.
The chance was swiftly erased and the 22-year-old was made to pay for it.
At 7-6 a second match point headed onto the scoreboard, with Suarez Navarro enjoying remarkable fortune to witness her shot bounce twice off the net cord and over for the point.
It wasn’t quite the answer, but Kontaveit’s 53rd unforced error sent Suarez Navarro into a last eight clash with No.2 seed Caroline Wozniacki.
"We’ve played a lot of times together. I know how she plays. I know how tough she is,” continued Suarez Navarro, who is down 5-2 in their head-to-head record. “It will be a really tough match. She fights for every ball, but at the same time she can play aggressive. She has a lot of experience in these rounds.
"It will be a really interesting match. For sure I have to be focused all the time with my level at 100 per cent to beat Caroline.”