Australia’s Samantha Stosur showed her muscle today in overcoming her nerves to beat Lucie Safarova from Czechoslovakia 6-3 6-7(0) 7-5.

Stosur, who has a habit of wilting under pressure, dominated the first set by blasting seven aces and ten winners past Safarova. Safarova started off well in the second set, but Stosur broke back and eventually forced a tie-break. Then the nerves came into play and with that, double faults and unforced errors. Safarova took advantage of it and won the tie-break 7-0. Stosur took an early lead in the third set, but Safarova hung on and despite hitting more winners, it was the unforced errors that unravelled her. Stosur managed to hold her nerve and was able to finish off the match, much to her and her coach, David Taylor’s delight.

Next up for Stosur is Simona Halep from Romania, who struggled during her match against Naomi Osaka of Japan. Halep surprisingly lost the first set to the eighteen year old Osaka, but managed to claw her way back for a 4-6 6-2 6-3 win.

Stosur and Halep have played each other six times with each player winning three matches a piece. Stosur, who has beaten Halep twice at Roland Garros already, will be hoping to continue to have the upper hand there.