World number one Simona Halep saved three match points to survive a titanic struggle and make the last 16 at the Australian Open.
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With the temperatures a manageable 26 Celsius at Melbourne Park after two days of oven-like conditions, the Romanian looked out for the count against American Lauren Davis.
However, she finally got over the line 4-6, 6-4, 15-13 in a gruelling 3hr 44min on Rod Laver Arena to make the fourth round in a contest that took its toll.
"I'm almost dead," the tenacious Romanian said after the incredible battle, in which Davis lost a toenail and Halep served for the match four times.
"The feeling in my muscles is gone and I don't feel my ankle anymore," she added.
Davis is ranked just 76 in the world and was knocked out in the first round of all four Grand Slams last year.
Halep, a former quarter-finalist at Melbourne Park who slumped out in the first round last year, will next play Australian Ashleigh Barty or Japan's Naomi Osaka in her quest for a maiden Grand Slam title.
Sixth seed Karolina Pliskova also had a tough test, beating fellow Czech Lucie Safarova 7-6 (8/6), 7-5.
In contrast, US Open finalist Madison Keys was in fine touch as she benefits from the guidance of former great Lindsay Davenport.
Flying under the radar, the 17th seed has surrendered just 16 games on her way to the fourth round after beating Romania's Ana Bogdan 6-3, 6-4.
She will next test herself against French eighth seed Caroline Garcia, who was too strong for Belarussian Alaksandra Sasnovich, winning in three sets.
Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic hold court later as they work to keep a potential Australian Open semi-final showdown on track.
The two greats of the game - who have won 11 Australian Opens between them - could meet in the last four if they maintain their winning ways, but both have tricky third-round tests ahead.
The Swiss defending champion headlines Rod Laver Arena in the evening, with the 19-time Grand Slam winner tackling France's Richard Gasquet.
On Margaret Court Arena, Serbia's Djokovic needs to find a way past 21st seeded Spaniard Albert Ramos-Vinolas.
