- Angelique Kerber found life tough on the court before eventually coming back
- Kerber dropped the first set to world No 88 Hsieh Su-Wei before winning
- The 21st seed eventually got past her but she was forced to battle hard
Former champion Angelique Kerber was driven to distraction by the unorthodox game of world No 88 Hsieh Su-wei.
Thankfully for Kerber, however, she overhauled the Taiwanese battler 4-6, 7-5, 6-2 to reach the quarter-finals of the Australian Open on Monday.
The 21st seed was being tied up in knots by double-sided Hsieh’s angles and slices in a match of clashing styles at Rod Laver Arena.
Former champion Angelique Kerber made it through after coming from one set behind
Kerber shakes the hand of her opponent Hsieh Su-Wei after the fourth-round victory
The world No 88 looked frustrated after having been one set ahead on Monday
But the slender Taiwanese fatigued and the German’s power game prevailed like it has so many times before.
Hsieh saved two match points to hold serve in a late burst of resistance but 2016 champion Kerber closed it out in the next game when she whipped an easy passing shot.
Kerber, 30, will meet American Madison Keys for a place in the semi-finals.
Kerber applies an iced towel to her neck as temperatures soared in Melbourne
Kerber didn’t leave the court until she had signed autographs for her supporters