World No.1 Naomi Osaka survived another major scare to reach the third round of the French Open.
The 21-year-old, who is chasing a third consecutive grand slam title, lost the first set 6-0 against Anna Karolina Schmiedlova on Tuesday and was two points from defeat.
Things did not get quite so hairy against former world No.1 Victoria Azarenka in a high-quality match but the top seed was a set and a break down before recovering to win 4-6 7-5 6-3 on Thursday.
Osaka joins Australian Ashleigh Barty and Serena Williams in the next round, but Samantha Stosur has bowed out.
Osaka, who said she had never been more nervous during a match than against Schmiedlova, again made a poor start, with Azarenka winning the first four games.
“The first set I got rolled,” she said.
“I made a little bit of a comeback in the end of the first set, but technically, she kind of killed me in the first set, and I just kept trying to find a way to stay positive and, like, jump around.”
Two-time Australian Open champion Azarenka has been getting closer to her best form having finally returned full-time to the tour last spring following a bruising custody battle over her toddler son.
She weathered an Osaka fightback to take the opening set, the pair trading ferocious ground strokes, and then opened up a 4-2 lead in the second.
But Osaka has established a reputation as one of the toughest players mentally and she dug her way back into the match before racing out to a 5-1 lead in the decider.
Azarenka put up more resistance at the end but ultimately Osaka was just too strong.
She will next face Katerina Siniakova hoping for a less problematic route into the fourth round for the first time.
Osaka remains in line for quarter-final match up with Barty, who is on the verge of breaking into the top five after her 7-5 6-1 demolition of American Danielle Collins.
“I knew that I needed to be better than I was in my first round, and overall it was a much better performance,” Barty said.
“When I needed to, I served well and I was a little bit smarter with where I served on those bigger points and was able to get myself back in control.”
Williams, who is chasing a record-equalling 24th grand slam title, easily dispatched Japan’s Kurumi Nara 6-3 6-2 to go into the third round.
But Australian Roland-Garros specialist Samantha Stosur was eliminated by Ekaterina Alexandrova 3-6 6-1 6-4; the 35-year-old’s first exit before the third round in 10 years.
Stosur played well but couldn’t match the power of the Russian, who seemed to grow in stature after being pushed around by the Australian in the first set.
Later in the day reigning Paris champion Simona Halep plays Polish ace Magda Linette, while Australian Priscilla Hon faces American Madison Keys.
