Svetlana Kuznetsova struggles but wins 3rd-round match at Australian Open

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Kuznetsova wins 3rd-round match at Aussie Open

MELBOURNE, Australia — French Open champion Svetlana Kuznetsova has advanced to the fourth round at the Australian Open, defeating 118th-ranked Angelique Kerber of Germany 3-6, 7-5, 6-4.

The third-ranked Kuznetsova, who also won the 2004 U.S. Open, gave herself a chance of improving on her record at the Australian Open. In eight trips to Melbourne Park, she has never advanced past the quarterfinals and last year was beaten by eventual champion Serena Williams in the final eight.

On Friday, Kuznetsova was up a break in the final set before allowing Kerber to even it at 4-4. The Russian broke Kerber’s service again in the ninth game and held in the next to take the match.