Serena Williams survived a second-set wobble in the third round of the French Open on Saturday, but recovered her senses in time to beat Russia's Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova 6-1 1-6 6-2.
The American world number one dropped serve immediately against her teenage opponent on a fresh morning at Roland Garros before reeling off the next six games.
Pavlyuchenkova, the 29th seed, broke serve again at the start of the second set but this time she rammed home her advantage and sped into a 5-0 lead at which point a sickly-looking Williams was checked over by the doctor.
Williams, the 2002 champion, saved two break points in the third game of the decider, one with an ace, before regaining control and she claimed victory after one hour 48 minutes when she drilled a return at the feet of Pavlyuchenkova.
Meanwhile, local hope Aravane Rezai's dreams of a French Open crown were dashed in 15 minutes on Saturday as Russian Nadia Petrova emerged a 6-7 6-4 10-8 winner of a sudden death shoot-out in the third round.
The 15th-seeded Rezai, who beat Justine Henin, Jelena Jankovic and Venus Williams en route to the Madrid Open title earlier this month, cracked first on a chilly Parisian morning after play re-started at 7-7 in the decider.
Rezai had saved three match points against the 19th seeded Petrova late on Friday before play was interrupted by dusk.
After the first three games went against serve, Petrova finally held to prevail on the day's first match point to set up a fourth-round clash with world number two Venus Williams.
