Samantha Stosur has produced a staggering comeback to set up an enticing US Open final sequel with Serena Williams in Miami.
Stosur recovered from the dead, somehow clawing her way back from 6-2 5-2 down to deny South African Chanelle Scheepers in three sets to reach the last 16.
Australia’s world No.5 had coughed up 10 double-faults before mounting her fightback and reeling off 10 straight games in the 2-6 7-5 6-2 victory that booked her date with Williams.
Stosur hasn’t played Williams since upstaging the American superstar in a dramatic final in New York on the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks last September.
The Queenslander trails Williams 4-3 head-to-head and will be looking to square the ledger to advance to the quarter-finals of the so-called “fifth major” for the third time.
Playing her first tournament since a fourth-round exit at the Australian Open in January, 10th seed Williams trounced Italian Roberta Vinci 6-2 6-1 in her third-round match on Saturday.
While Stosur was savouring her gutsy win, compatriot Bernard Tomic was digesting a straight-sets loss to Spanish fifth seed David Ferrer and facing a possible fine for coaching.
Tomic plans to appeal any possible fine levelled against him after claiming he was merely asking his coach-father John to have some racquets restrung when the chair umpire cautioned him.
Ferrer, who reached the 2005 and 2006 semi-finals, converted four of 10 break-point chances to end Australian interest in the men’s draw following the earlier exits of Matt Ebden and wildcard Marinko Matosevic.
Roger Federer set up a 24th career meeting against old rival Andy Roddick while crowd favourite Kim Clijsters crashed out of the women’s event.
Third-seeded Federer, who has a 21-2 record against the 34th-ranked Roddick, recorded his 23rd win of 2012 by beating 19-year-old American wildcard Ryan Harrison 6-2 7-6 (7-3).
“I felt like I had to win the match like three times at the end, so I was relieved to come through,” Federer said.
“And beating an American in America is always a big deal because this is here where they usually play their very best.”
The Swiss superstar is bidding to capture his third Indian Wells-Miami title double, having also won the back-to-back US hardcourt Masters events in 2005 and 2006.
Federer has now won 40 of his past 42 matches since the 2011 US Open semi-finals.
“I guess I’m more confident now. I have been playing really nice as of late,” Federer said.
Roddick, the 2004 and 2010 champion in Miami, dropped nine points on his serve and hit 10 aces to beat Luxembourg’s Gilles Muller 6-3 6-2.
The American, who is at his lowest ranking since July 2001, won in 74 minutes.
France’s Gael Monfils defeated Ukrainian qualifier Sergei Bubka – the boyfriend of women’s world No.1 Victoria Azarenka – 6-4 6-4 in 78 minutes.
Monfils next faces Argentine 21st seed Juan Monaco.