Nadia out of Australian Open

Melbourne Australia, January 19, 2007.
Nadia - S.Williams 6-1, 5-7, 3-6.

Two-time Australian Open champion Serena Williams has kept her hopes of a third title at Melbourne Park alive with a stirring come-from-behind win over Russian No.5 seed Nadia Petrova on Rod Laver Arena. Williams, the 2003 and 2005 champion, was staring down the barrel of a third-round exit with Petrova one set and a break up in the second. But a combination of Williams' power and Petrova's nervy service game saw the unseeded American rally to take a gripping match.
The current world No.81 was in early trouble, as Petrova grabbed two first-set service breaks to sew up the opener in just 29 minutes. Williams responded to grab a 3-0 advantage in the second, but just as she looked set to get back in the game, Petrova won the next four games to take a stranglehold on the match.

But in a decisive period, both women's struggled to hold serve, and Williams managed to level up before a Petrova double fault in the 12th game handed Williams the set.

Williams got the first break of the third, but Petrova broke back immediately. But the Russian again faltered, losing her serve, and giving Williams the opening she needed to seal the match.