Tennis - Australian Open - Second Round - Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia, January 17, 2019. Romania's Simona Halep celebrates after winning the match against Sofia Kenin of the U.S. REUTERS/Adnan Abidi
MELBOURNE (Reuters) - Top seed Simona Halep staved off a spirited challenge from American youngster Sofia Kenin to prevail 6-3 6-7(5) 6-4 in the third round of the Australian Open on Thursday and set up a showdown with former world number one Venus Williams next.
The Romanian has struggled for form and fitness since her first-round defeat at the U.S. Open last August and came into the year's first Grand Slam short of preparation after a back injury ended her 2018 season prematurely.
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