Caroline Wozniacki recovered from a seemingly impossible position to beat Jana Fett and reach the third round of the Australian Open.
The world number two was out of sorts throughout and looked certain to be heading out the exit door when she trailed Croatian Fett 5-1 in the deciding set and faced two match points.
But a combination of nerves from 21-year-old Fett, who only won her first grand slam match on Monday, and the renowned doggedness of Wozniacki saw her reel off six games in a row for a 3-6 6-2 7-5 triumph.
Fett pressed hard at the start of the decider and the errors from Wozniacki grew until she faced the two match points at 15-40 in the seventh game.
A netted backhand from Fett on the second seemed to change the feeling of the match and, as the Croatian sensed her chance slipping away, Wozniacki used all her experience to claw her way back.
“Experience was crucial today… I’ve been out here so many times and knew how she’d feel.”
The great escape! [2] @CaroWozniacki comes up big to register an incredible comeback and book her place in 3R. #AusOpen pic.twitter.com/AGboG5GDV0
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 17, 2018
The Dane came into the tournament with high hopes of winning a first grand slam title after lifting the biggest trophy of her career at the WTA Finals at the end of last season and is one of six women who could finish this tournament as world number one.
Wozniacki now must recover in time for a third-round clash against either 30th seed Kiki Bertens or American Nicole Gibbs.
