Brisbane, Jan 4: Four-time Grand Slam winner Kim Clijsters fought back from the brink of defeat to overcome Ana Ivanovic 6-1, 1-6, 6-3 in the second round of the Brisbane International on Tuesday.
In a match of contrasting fortunes, Clijsters stormed through the first set in imperious fashion, only to quickly surrender the second and find herself 3-0 down in the decider and facing a break point for 4-0.
But the Belgian picked herself up and fought her way back into the match, winning the next six games against an increasingly demoralised Ivanovic to maintain her perfect record against the Serbian former world No.1.
Second seeded German Andrea Petkovic moved into the quarter-finals with a 7-6 (7/2), 6-0 win over Czech Barbora Zahlavova Strycova.
Runner-up to Petra Kvitova last year, Petkovic has jumped 20 places in the world rankings over the past 12 months to reach No.10 and said she wanted to consolidate in 2012.
She remains on course for a possible semi-final against third seed Francesca Schiavone, who beat Kazakhstan's Galina Voskoboeva 6-4, 6-4.
Slovakia's Daniela Hantuchova ended the run of American qualifier Vania King with a 4-6, 6-2, 6-3 victory.
