Wozniacki and Svitolina survive a scare

Pavlyuchenkova, last year’s quarter finalist, the latest seed to fall

Title contenders Caroline Wozniacki and Elina Svitolina survived big scares at the Australian Open yesterday, as a new teen star was born at the first major of the year.

World No. 2 Wozniacki produced a great escape against little-known Croat Jana Fett, saving two match points and rallying from 5-1 down in an epic third set to keep her dream of a first Grand Slam title alive.

She looked out for the count, and was struggling afterwards to work out how she survived 3-6, 6-2, 7-5 against a player ranked 119.

“That was crazy, I don’t know how I got back in the match, She really took her shots, she had nothing to lose,” said Wozniacki, adding that “experience was crucial”.

Fourth seed Svitolina also came from a set down to overcome spirited Czech Katerina Siniakova 4-6, 6-2, 6-1. The Ukrainian is now on a sevenmatch win streak after winning the lead-up Brisbane International.

She picked up five WTA Tour titles last year, more than any other woman, making her a serious Grand Slam contender.

Her next task is tackling 15-year-old sensation Marta Kostyuk, who became the youngest woman to reach the third round since Martina Hingis got to the quarter-finals in 1996.

Russia’s Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, a quarter-finalist last year, became the latest seed to slump out in the women’s draw, which has been shorn of leading names over the first two rounds. Seeded 15, she lost to Ukraine’s Kateryna Bondarenko.

Venus Williams’ conqueror Belinda Bencic also ran out of steam, having no answers against Thai qualifier Luksika Kumkhum, slumping out 6-1, 6-3.

Julia Goerges’ 15-match unbeaten run came to a shuddering halt as she lost in straight sets to Alize Cornet in the second round action.