China's Peng Shuai wasted two match points against Poland's Agnieszka Radwanska before tumbling out of the Australian Open 7-5, 3-6, 7-5 in the fourth round on Monday.

Twelfth seed Radwanska outlasted Peng in three tight sets to win a tense battle in 2 hr 44 min on the Margaret Court Arena.

The two players had met three times previously with all three matches going the distance, Radwanska winning two times and Peng once.

They were evenly matched again on Monday, with the 21-year-old Pole just shading the first set and Peng the second.

Peng looked on track when she secured an early break in the third with a series of penetrating ground strokes, but Radwanska broke straight back then broke again to open up a 3-1 lead.

However, the Chinese player showed incredible fight to come again, breaking Radwanska twice then serving for the match at 5-4.

She brought up two match points but Radwanska bravely saved both as she levelled the set, then held her own serve to go to 6-5.

The pressure proved too much for Peng, who cracked as Radwanska attacked and produced three match points of her own.

AFP

(China Daily 01/25/2011 page24)