Melbourne, Australia • After wasting three chances to serve it out, then having to save three match points, Simona Halep finally fended off American Lauren Davis third-round win that took 3 hours, 45 minutes and equaled a record at the Australian Open.
For top-ranked Halep, already playing with an injured left ankle, equaling the mark for most games in a women's singles match with the 4-6, 6-4, 15-13 victory was probably not ideal in the first week.
The third set took 2 hours and 22 minutes and momentum swung, with 11 service breaks and two medical timeouts — for Davis to get treatment for toes on both feet — before Halep converted on her first match point.