Serena Williams has survived a scare to advance to the quarterfinals at the ASB Classic tennis tournament.
Serena Williams at the ASB Classic in Auckland, 2020. Photo: Photosport
The 23-time Grand Slam champion has had to come from a set down for a 3-6 6-2 6-3 win over countrywoman Christina McHale in Auckland this afternoon.
Williams will play Laura Siegemund for a place in the semifinals.
The German also came from a set down to knock US teen star Coco Gauff out of the tournament.
Williams has faced McHale three times in her career with a 3-0 winning record.
However, two of their matches have gone the distance including at Wimbledon in 2016 where Williams won 6-7 6-2 6-4.
Tonight's round of 16 matches feature two-time champion Julia Goerges against Jill Teichmann of Switzerland, while Danish star Caroline Wozniacki plays Lauren Davis of the US.
Williams has also made it to the doubles semifinals with partner Caroline Wozniacki.
Williams and Wozniacki, in just their second doubles match together, made light work of the number one seeds Caroline Dolehide and Johanna Larsson in the opening WTA event of the year.
The pair won the Wednesday night centre court match 6-2 6-1 in less than an hour.