Serena Williams has survived an impressive showing from Garbine Muguruza to reach the quarter-finals of the Australian Open.
The world number one dropped the first set as the 24th seed threatened a shock in the Rod Laver Arena before coming through by a 2-6 6-3 6-2 scoreline.
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Williams was successful against Muguruza at this tournament two years ago, but much of the buildup to Monday's match revolved around the Spaniard's victory over the American at Roland Garros in 2014.
That encounter was played on clay, but during the opening set Muguruza showed that the court surface wouldn't take away her ability to stifle her opponent and, after winning all but one of the points on Williams's second serve, she cantered into an early advantage.
Williams struck early in the second, but Muguruza, who was competing in the last 16 for the second successive year, broke back immediately as she continued to frustrate her opponent.
The frustration for the 33-year-old didn't last though as she powered through the remaining games of the set to take the 24th seed to a decider
The key moment came in game two, as Muguruza failed to convert five break points for a 2-0 advantage, and after surviving that onslaught, Williams broke easily in the next game to steal the lead.
Muguruza still persevered but Williams was performing more consistently on the bigger points and, after breaking through again in the seventh game, she served out the match to reach the last eight.
Darren Plant
