World number 44 Vavara Lepchenko has advanced to the second round of the Sydney International with victory over Svetlana Kuznetsova.
The American qualifier won the first set 6-3, but was taken to a decider when the Russian clinched the second set by the same score.
Lepchenko broke at a crucial moment in the third set to seal it 7-5.
The 27-year-old will face Bulgaria's Tsvetana Pironkova, who overcame Sorana Cirstea, in the next round.
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