22/01/01: Venus Williams moved into the quarter-finals of the Australian Open in Melbourne after needing three sets to get past French 21-year-old Amelie Mauresmo, runner-up to Martina Hingis two years ago.
Williams cruised through the first set 6-2 and when Mauresmo was foot-faulted on her second serve at 1-1 40-30 in the second set and then double-faulted to lose the game the crowd expected an early finish.
However, Williams double-faulted on break point herself in her next two service games and lost the set 6-3.
Williams wasted no time to reassert herself, breaking in the second game of the final set.
A poor seventh game allowed Mauresmo back in, but at the crucial time it was Williams who held herself together the better.
She broke again for 5-3 and after saving a break point in the next game came up with two aces to win 6-2 3-6 6-3 and join sister Serena in the quarter-finals. PA