Melbourne, Australia: Flavia Pennetta became the first woman through to the quarterfinals of the Australian Open with a 6-1, 4-6, 7-5 win over ninth-seeded Angelique Kerber of Germany on Sunday.
The 28th-seeded Pennetta, who turns 32 next month, has played some of the best tennis of her career since returning last year from a wrist injury that caused her ranking to drop as low as No. 166.
Pennetta reached her first Grand Slam semifinal at the U.S. Open last year and has followed that by reaching her first quarterfinal at Melbourne Park in 11 appearances.
Kerber was also bidding for her first quarterfinal at the Australian Open. She hasn't been past the fourth round of a Grand Slam since reaching the Wimbledon semifinals in 2012.
