Sabine Lisicki staged a miraculous comeback in the third set to defeat Barbora Strycova to advance to the fourth round of the US Open.
Lisicki started the match well and managed to secure an early break of serve, only for the Czech to hit back and level. However, the number 24 seed found her rhythm once more to take the attack to her opponent and take the first set 6-4.
In the second set, both women struggled to hold serve as each player broke twice in turn, but Strycova took the initiative and found a third break to take the second set 6-4.
The 29-year-old continued her impressive form by racing into a 5-1 lead in the decider, breaking the German a further two times. The Czech had the opportunity to serve out for the match, but Lisicki managed to keep her hopes alive with a break.
The German then secured a hold to bring herself within striking distance, but Strycova still had a second opportunity to serve for the match.
However, Lisicki denied her again and held to put the pressure on the Czech, which told as she was broken for the third game in a row to hand the German a 7-5 win in the deciding set to secure her place in the last 16 of the competition.
She will now face Simona Halep in the fourth round.
Simon Sinclair
