Maria Sharapova grunted and Sabine Lisicki groaned as the 2008 Australian Open champion booked a quarter-final berth with a tension-packed win over the German on Monday night.
Sharapova sent the grunt-o-meter into the red for two and a quarter hours – the Russian fourth seed eventually triumphing 3-6 6-2 6-3 in the fourth-round match on Rod Laver Arena.
In a closely fought match in which momentum swung several times, Sharapova seized the advantage when she won a vital service game lasting 13 minutes to go 2-1 up in the third set.
Then the 24-year-old broke Lisicki’s serve soon afterwards to take an advantage she never surrendered.
Sharapova started in red-hot touch as 14th seed Lisicki appeared to suffer from nerves, winning the opening three games of the first set.
But Lisicki then reeled off the next six to win the set – Sharapova struggling with double faults and the German upping the ante with some high-quality tennis.
Sharapova regrouped to win the second, before a tense contest entered a deciding set.
The match effectively turned Sharapova’s way once she held her serve against the odds early in the third set to shut the door on Lisicki.
Sharapova now plays fellow Russian Ekaterina Makarova, who stunned Serena Williams in the tournament’s biggest upset earlier on Monday to make the last eight.
Sharapova felt she won despite not playing her best tennis, but was relieved to make the quarter-finals at Melbourne Park for the first time since her 2008 win.
“I got it together in the second set, but the third was a battle,” she said.
“Obviously there were a few ups and downs, but I’m really happy to be through.
“It’s a step further than last year.”
Lisicki was pleased with her performance despite the defeat, and believed both Sharapova’s marathon service game and being broken three games later proved pivotal moments.
“Unfortunately she made some great serves in the third set when I had some break points, and there’s not much I can do when she does that,” Lisicki said.
“I’m taking lots of positive things out of here and I’ll keep building on it.”