Serena Williams survives scare vs. Victoria Azarenka at French Open

PARIS – They say that cats have nine lives. So too, it seems, does Serena Williams against rival Victoria Azarenka at the Grand Slams.

Backed against a wall once again facing Azarenka, the American ranked world No. 1 and a two-time champion here – dressed in animal print – came from behind, beating the Belarusian in three sets Saturday evening at the French Open, booking a spot in the fourth round.

Breaking it down:

Scoreline: [1] Serena Williams (USA) def. [27] Victoria Azarenka (BLR) 3-6, 6-4, 6-2

Williams had an 8-0 record against Azarenka at the majors before this match, including a 2010 Australian Open encounter in which she stormed from a set and 4-0 down to win. It was much the same on this day, Azarenka charging ahead with aggressive, consistent play that a cat-like Williams turned the tides on just in time.

What it means: Williams is now 16-3 overall in their head-to-head, which included a match just weeks ago where Azarenka held match points but was unable to convert.

Williams, 33, sets up an all-American fourth-round showdown with Sloane Stephens, who won Saturday 6-4, 6-1 over Tsvetana Pironkova.

How it happened: Azarenka came out firing, blasting winners off both sides and making Williams, a winner here in 2002 and 2013, appear slow and flat-footed. She closed out the first set 6-3, then built a 4-2 lead as Williams continued to misfire.

But that's just when the American found her footing, breaking back for 4-all and holding to force Azarenka to serve to stay in the set. Down a set point at 4-5, Azarenka hit a ball that was called out on Williams' side of the court, Williams hitting her response into the net. The chair umpire, Kader Nouni, ruled the ball to be in upon checking the mark, but said that the point was to be replayed, instead of awarding it to Azarenka.

Azarenka didn't hold back after the match. "My honest opinion: That call was (expletive) and everyone knows it," she said.

On court during the match, Azarenka could be heard saying, "The call came after she hit (the ball)," claiming that Williams' shot into the net wasn't affected by the "Out!" call from the lines person. Nouni disagreed, however, as did Williams.

When Azarenka waved her hand at the situation to go back to serve, Williams replied, "Don't wave your hand at me." The American would win the next point and with it, the set.

In the third, an irked Azarenka returned from a bathroom break and found her form, driving winners and leading 2-0. But Williams countered again, this time with more finality, winning the final six games of the match and ending it with a whizzing forehand passing shot, Williams doing a spin on the clay with her fist held up, letting out a scream of delight.

The post-match shakedown: Azarenka didn't parse her words after the loss, telling reporters she thought the call was wrong in her opinion. She also called for an instant replay system in tennis, saying, "in that moment, if you don't have a review like that, it's causing a lot of problem(s). So maybe there is something you can do about it, because it's always this rule that is umpire's call, and I don't get it."

What Serena said: "I was just really down and out in that match, and I just feel like, you know, I just really zeroed in," Williams said after the victory. "I really focused and I really wanted to win that."

"I think (Azarenka is) definitely a top-5 player," Williams said of her opponent. "I feel like she's playing really well. She knows how to be a champion. I still think that she can come back and be one of the best or if not 'the' best in the world. You know, it's just getting there is sometimes hard, but she's been there before."

Key stat: Williams knocked in 41 winners, able to overstep her unforced errors count (21), particularly in the latter part of the match. Azarenka would hit 21 in both departments, the match being dictated in the end by Williams.

The biggest stat might be the most intangible of ones: Williams' mental power. She simply was too tough for Azarenka in the end, surviving the tense moments of the three-setter.

Williams and Stephens will meet Monday.

Making (more) history: Williams added to her résumé by becoming the first woman to win 50 matches or more at each of the four Grand Slams. Her win over Azarenka moved her to 50-11 in Paris. She's won 79 matches at the U.S. Open, the most of any of her majors. Williams continues her chase of Steffi Graff's 22 Grand Slam titles. She has 19.