New Delhi: Eighth seed Venus Williams survived her toughest test at the Australian Open to beat Indian Sania Mirza 7-6 6-4 and reach the fourth round on Saturday.
Mirza produced a superb performance, but American Williams eventually wore her down to reach the last 16 and will next meet Li Na of China or Polish qualifier Marta Domachowska.
India Mirza, seeded 31st, made an excellent start by snatching an early break but the Wimbledon champion broke back and played a flawless tiebreak, winning it 7-0.
Games went with serve in the second set until 3-3 when Williams broke and she took her ace count to seven while serving out for victory.
Sania put up a brave fight in the first set, making the 8th seed sweat for every point.
The 20-year-old Indian had earlier defeated Timea Bacsinszky of Switzerland on Thursday in the second round in three sets 6-1, 4-6, 7-5 to make it to the third round.
Venus had reached the third round after defeating French player Camille Pin 7-5, 6-4.
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