French Open champion Francesca Schiavone edged Svetlana Kuznetsova 4-6 6-1 16-14 in a four-hour and 44 minute marathon on Sunday that shattered the women's record for the longest match at a Grand Slam in the open era.
In a tortuous third set of unrelenting tension, 30-year-old Schiavone saved six match points and captured the decisive break at 14-14 after reaching desperately for a crosscourt volley that left Kuznetsova flat-footed at the net.
Kuznetsova saved two match points with a baseline winner and a sharp return but could not save the third as Schiavone wrapped up the three-hour final set with a forehand volley.
The match surpassed the record set by Barbora Zahlavova-Strycova and Regina Kulikova that lasted four hours and 19 minutes in last year's Australian Open, according to tournament officials.
Schiavone will next play top seed Caroline Wozniacki.
