CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) — Third-seeded Marion Bartoli hung on for a 6-2, 6-7, 6-4 victory over Vera Dushevina at the Family Circle Cup on Wednesday.
Bartoli breezed through the opening set and was quickly up a break in the second set before Dushevina rallied to win in a tiebreaker, 7-3. Bartoli finally pulled ahead in the third, winning consecutive games to move in front 5-3. Dushevina hit a backhand wide on match point as Bartoli screamed “Yes!”
The match lasted 3 hours, 4 minutes. Bartoli was the highest seeded player in action.
Unseeded American Venus Williams faces another former No. 1 in the world in Jelena Jankovic on Wednesday night.
Fifth seeded Serena Williams goes for a spot in the quarterfinals against Marina Erakovic of New Zealand on Thursday.