Pavlyuchenkova beats Stephens in marathon contest to reach quarters

Tennis - Australian Open - Fourth Round - Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia, January 21, 2019. Russia’s Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova in action during the match against Sloane Stephens of the U.S. REUTERS/Edgar Su

MELBOURNE (Reuters) - Unseeded Russian Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova won a marathon three-setter against American fifth seed Sloane Stephens 6-7(3) 6-3 6-3 to reach the Australian Open quarter-finals on Sunday and match her best show in Grand Slams.

The unseeded Russian reached her second quarter-final at Melbourne Park after her 2017 run and will now meet another American in Danielle Collins for a place in the last four.