Simona Halep survives almighty scare to prevail in three-hour, 44-minute epic

WORLD No. 1 Simona Halep has survived the mother of all third-round scares, which included a 15-13 third set scoreline, against defiant American Lauren Davis. But given her injuries, can she recover in time?

Lauren Davis receives medical attention against Simona Halep. Pic: AFP

ON the scale of one to epic, world No. 1 Simona Halep has clocked the Australian Open.

The Romanian survived the mother of all third-round scares against defiant American Lauren Davis, 4-6 6-4 15-13, to move into the round of 16.

Halep, who has built a reputation of her own for scrambling for every point, in every game, of every match, must have felt like a terrier barking at her own reflection.

Davis, who surged 13 spots to No. 63 in the world off the back of the gutsy performance, refused to give an inch.

I’ve done it: the pure relief as Romania's Simona Halep realises she’s through to the next round. Picture: AP

She chased, hunted and attacked with intent, shelling Halep with mighty groundstroke winners.

None were better than her backhand.

A double-fisted weapon of tennis ball destruction, clocked as the fastest average speed of any backhand — man or woman — at the Australian Open this week.

And Davis was fearless in its deployment, its use often drawing the gasps of wonderment from an enthralled gallery inside Rod Laver Arena.

An exhausted Simona Halep remains courtside after her marathon three-setter. Picture: Getty Images

The power and placement, coupled with Davis’s willingness to charge at the net, kept Halep off balance throughout the gruelling contest.

But the dual French Open finalist’s class and persistence ultimately prevailed in three hours and 44 minutes of must-watch tennis.

The third set, alone, went for two hours and 22 minutes.

Simona Halep digs deep against Lauren Davis. Picture: AAP

All told, the marathon clash was: the third longest women’s singles match in Australian Open history and, equalled the games record (48) at Melbourne Park.

The dual French Open finalist, with an insatiable appetite for rallies, displayed a steely resolve against free-swinging Davis, who committed 73 unforced errors.

Before yesterday, Halep had only one seven matches after dropping the first set in a grand slam.

"My toenail fell off."

This match literally has EVERYTHING.#AusOpen #7Tennis pic.twitter.com/tNVq84eGGJ

— #7TENNIS 🎾 (@7tennis) January 20, 2018

Halep clinched victory on her fourth attempt to serve out the match after fending off three match points against at 10-11 in the decider.

But at love-40, Halep yesterday admitted she thought “it’s over”.

“Honestly, I thought it’s over at that moment, but was good because I relax my arm and I serve pretty well those three balls,” Halep.

“And then she took the medical. I had time to calm down. I had come to believe again, to restart the mind.

United States' Lauren Davis falls during the energy-sapping third set. Picture: AAP

“I found more energy after that three minutes’ break. But at 13-all when I took the game, I said it’s my lucky number.”

Halep conceded she would not have been able to clinch victory in similar circumstances previously.

“No, I think now I’m much stronger,” Halep said. “Mentally, of course, I was talking a lot during the match. And yeah, I was a little bit frustrated because of the leg. I felt the pain all match, but I didn’t give up.

“For sure I’m stronger mentally, and I could resist like for every moment in the match. That makes me very happy, and I think the big win is that I could handle it.”

Lauren Davis takes a medical time out to address issues with her right foot. Picture: AAP

Lauren Davis gets treatment to her injured left foot during her second medical time out.

At 11-all, Davis sensationally called for a medical time-out for a blown toenail.

She had poked and prodded at her right shoe for several games in the third set before asking the umpire for assistance.

Further running repairs were needed on her left toe later in the match after it too began to peel off.

The battle won: Simona Halep (right) is congratulated by Lauren Davis. Picture: AFP

“It was definitely unfortunate, the timing of it,” Davis said.

“I think my second toes are just a bit infected.

“I was just jamming them a lot with how much I was moving around the court.

“That first match point just, I felt something and I couldn’t really put any pressure — it was my right toe, and then it eventually was my left toe, also.”

Halep (ankle), who will play Ashleigh Barty/Naomi Osaka, has injury concerns of her own to contend with next week.

“It’s sore. I felt the pain. It’s not recovered. It’s impossible to recover after,” Halep said. “I think tomorrow is going to be worse, but I just push, push myself, and we will see what’s going to happen.

“For sure I will go on court, but I don’t know how it’s going to be.

“The doctor said that the risk is there because it’s an injury, but I believe that it’s going to be fine.”

The great escape: Simona Halep signs autographs following her marathon match. Picture: AP