Alexandra Stevenson is making a habit of going the distance in Memphis. Last year, the American needed a third set tie-break in her opening round against Vera Zvonerava before reaching the final, where she lost in a third set-tie-break against Lisa Raymond after having five championship points.

So it should have come as no surprise to those watching at The Racquet Club of Memphis that Stevenson endured yet another marathon, this time saving four match points against Australian qualifier Samantha Stosur before winning 3-6, 7-6(7), 7-6(7) in 2 hours, 13 minutes.

"I'm happy that I pulled it out," said Stevenson. "I haven't been able to do that in my last couple of matches, so I just dug deep. Now I want to win the tournament."

After losing the first set, Stevenson broke the Australian's serve early in the second but was pegged back to 2-2. The set then went with serve until the tie-break, when the Australian fought back from 4-1 down to hold two match points at 6-4. Stevenson saved the first with a service winner, while Stosur's attempted pass went wide on the second.

Drama

As Stevenson wrapped up the second set four points later, any thoughts that Stosur would get downhearted soon evaporated as she opened up a 4-2 lead in the decider. Stevenson held serve in the seventh game before breaking back in the longest game of the match to level a 4-4.

But the drama was not over. At 5-5, Stevenson gifted the Australian a break of serve with a double fault, but Stosur failed to serve out the match as it went to another tie-break, where Stevenson led 5-1 before Stosur won the next five points. Stevenson saved two more match points with aces, either side of one of her own at 7-6. But her 13th ace of the match brought up a second match point for the American, which she took when Stosur's forehand hit the net.

Tight

"The tie-breaks were pretty tight," said Stevenson. "I was up in both of them but I let them slip away. I just held on and fought hard. Those two aces [on match point] were definitely key."

Despite the disappointment, Stosur was gracious in defeat. "I had the match points but I couldn't do anything about them," she said. "She was just too good. She came up with the aces when she needed them and she showed why she's a top player."
Stevenson now goes on to play Japan's Saori Obata in the second round after she defeated lucky loser Vanessa Web in straight sets.