Paris: Serena Williams has advanced to the fourth round at the French Open with a seesaw win over 18-year-old Russian Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova 6-1, 1-6, 6-2.
The top-ranked Williams appeared in danger when she lost the first five games of the second set on Saturday.
At that point, she received a visit during the changeover from a trainer, who checked her temperature and gave her pills.
Williams' play steadied in the third set. She took a 4-1 lead, and on match point she put a booming return at Pavlyuchenkova's feet for the win.
It assured Williams of retaining the No. 1 ranking after the tournament.
The 18-year-old Pavlyuchenkova fell to 8-1 this year in three-set matches.
Russia's Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova returns the ball to Serena Williams during their women's third round match in the French Open tennis championship at the Roland Garros stadium, on May 29, 2010, in Paris.
Image Credit: AFP
