
World number one Simona Halep entered the third round of Australian Open on Thursday after defeatingSofia Keninat theRod Laver Arena.
The Romanian top seed,set upa mouth-watering clash with seven-time Grand Slam champion Venus Williams.
Although she was pushed to the limit by unseeded Sofia Kenin over three sets that lasted fortwo-and-a-half hours.
Halep broke the 20-year-old Kenin twice in the first set but the American fought back in the second set from 3-0 down to level it at 1-1 in the tiebreaker.
Halep then got the crucial break in the third set to go up 5-4 and converted her second match point for the victory in two hours and 31 minutes.
Halep, who was on a five-match losing streak before the Australian Open, set up a third-round meeting against multiple Grand Slam winner Williams, who beat Frenchwoman Alize Cornet 6-3, 4-6, 6-0.