Australian Open: No. 1 Simona Halep survives American Lauren Davis in marathon match

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Tennis Channel recaps Day 4 at the Australian Open, where No. 3 seed Garbine Muguruza and No. 9 Johanna Konta lost as temperatures cracked triple digits. USA TODAY Sports

MELBOURNE, Australia — World No. 1 Simona Halep saved three match points to survive a 4-6, 6-4, 15-13 thrilling battle of attrition against American Lauren Davis in the longest-timed women’s match of this year’s Australian Open on Saturday. 

The match lasted 3 hours, 45 minutes before Halep finally took advantage of her first match point at 14-13, 40-30 when Davis sailed a forehand wide.

The match equaled the longest women’s match ever in terms of games at the Australian Open with 48. The last time a women’s match had that many games was in 1966 when Chanda Rubin defeated Arantxa Sanchez Vicario 6-4, 2-6, 16-14.

Halep served for the match four times in the final set that lasted 2 hours, 22  minutes. The Romanian served for the match in the 10th game, 12th game, 16th game and then the 28th game.

Davis, leading 11-10 in the third set, held three match points at 0-40 on Halep’s serve, but made three errors to see those opportunities evaporate.

Halep, who turned her left ankle during her first match here, managed to dart around the court with the ankle taped tightly, but will likely be concerned as to how she will recover after this endurance test.

“It was very tough match and I never played a third set so long,” Halep said on court. “I’m almost dead. It was nice we could show such good tennis. I don’t know how my ankle is because I can’t feel it anymore."

More: Madison Keys advances to fourth round

More: Maria Sharapova finds her groove, faces Angelique Kerber in big match

Davis had a toenail problem surface during the third set, which she received treatment on twice. She took a medical timeout after failing to take advantage of the three match points and before serving at 11-11, and then when leading 13-12 before Halep served.

Fans cheered for the gutsy Davis as she left the court after the marathon encounter in which she almost landed a first career journey to a Grand Slam fourth round.

Davis had her second toe toenail on her left foot attended to twice in the match, right after failing to win any of those three match points and before Halep served in the 23rd game.

The stats delivered 52 winners and 73 unforced errors for Davis, and 27 winners and 39 unforced errors for Halep.

Halep will play the winner of the match between 18th-seeded Ashleigh Barty of Australia and Naomi Osaka of Japan in the fourth round. 

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Simona Halep celebrates after defeating Lauren Davis in their third round match.  Ng Han Guan, AP

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Simona Halep hits a return against Lauren Davis during their women's singles third round match.  PAUL CROCK, AFP/Getty Images

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Simona Halep in action against Lauren Davis.  JULIAN SMITH, EPA-EFE

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Lauren Davis falls during her third round match against Simona Halep.  Vincent Thian, AP

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Lauren Davis during a medical timeout against Simona Halep.  JULIAN SMITH, EPA-EFE

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A close-up view of Lauren Davis's shoe shortly before she takes a medical timeout during her third round match against Simona Halep.  MAST IRHAM, EPA-EFE

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Lauren Davis reacts during her third round match against Simona Halep.  MAST IRHAM, EPA-EFE

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Lauren Davis in her third round match against Simona Halep.  Scott Barbour, Getty Images

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Madison Keys away her visor after beating Ana Bogdan in their women's singles third-round match.  WILLIAM WEST, AFP/Getty Images

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Madison Keys celebrates winning her third round match against Ana Bogdan.  MARK CRISTINO, EPA-EFE

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Madison Keys plays a forehand in her third-round match against Ana Bogdan.  Mark Kolbe, Getty Images

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Day 5: Elina Svitolina plays a forehand return to Marta Kostyuk during the third round.  Julian Smith, EPA-EFE

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Day 5: Grigor Dimitrov stretches for a forehand return against Andrey Rublev during the third round.  Julian Smith, EPA-EFE

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Day 5: Spectators stay under the shade at Rod Laver Arena as temperatures soared past triple digits for the second straight afternoon.  Dita Alangkara, AP

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Day 5: Gilles Muller lines up a serve against Pablo Carreno Busta during the third round.  Greg Wood, AFP/Getty Images

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Day 5: Magdalena Rybarikova chases down a backhand return against Kateryna Bondarenko during the third round.  Saeed Khan, AFP/Getty Images

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Day 5: A young fan beats the heat in a fountain at Melbourne Park.  Dean Lewins, EPA-EFE

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Day 5: Andrey Rublev reaches for a backhand return against Grigor Dimitrov during the third round.  Lukas Coch, EPA-EFE

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Day 5: Ukrainian teenager Marta Kostyuk plays a forehand return against Elina Svitolina during the third round.  Peter Parks, AFP/Getty Images

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Day 5: Grigor Dimitrov fires a serve to Andrey Rublev during the third round.  Peter Parks, AFP/Getty Images

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Day 5: Kateryna Bondarenko serves to Magdalena Rybarikova during the third round.  Saeed Khan, AFP/Getty Images

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Day 5: A photographer manufactures a little shade during third-round matches.  Mark Cristino, EPA-EFE

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Day 5: Even with a heavily-wrapped thigh, Alize Cornet runs down a forehand return against Elise Mertens during the third round.  Joe Castro, EPA-EFE

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Day 4: Novak Djokovic chases down a backhand return against Gael Monfils during the second round.  Lukas Coch, EPA-EFE

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Gael Monfils plays a serve to Novak Djokovic during the second round.  Vincent Thian, AP

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Day 4: Angelique Kerber serves to Donna Vekic during the second round.  Julian Smith, EPA-EFE

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Day 4: Angelique Kerber celebrates after beating Donna Vekic in the second round.  Mark Kolbe, Getty Images

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Day 4: Maria Sharapova plays a backhand return against Anastasija Sevastova during the second round.  Cameron Spencer, Getty Images

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Day 4: Maria Sharapova celebrates after beating Anastasija Sevastova in the second round.  Dean Lewins, EPA-EFE

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Day 4: American Bernarda Pera is overcome after knocking off ninth-seeded Johanna Konta in the second round.  Mast Irham, EPA-EFE

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Day 4: Bernarda Pera plays a forehand return against Johanna Konta during the second round.  Andy Brownbill, AP

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Day 4: Bernarda Pera celebrates her second-round upset of Johanna Konta.  Andy Brownbill, AP

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Day 4: Lesia Tsurenko uses ice towels to keep cool as temperatures surpassed 100 degrees.  William West, AFP/Getty Images

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Day 4: Tim Smyczek laments a missed shot during his second-round loss against Albert Ramos-Vinolas.  William West, AFP/Getty Images

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Day 4: Karolina Pliskova chases down a forehand return against Beatriz Haddad Maia during the second round.  Peter Parks, AFP/Getty Images

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Day 4: Garbine Muguruza lines up a serve against Hsieh Su-wei during the second round.  Lukas Coch, EPA-EFE

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Day 4: Caroline Garcia celebrates after a tough three-set victory over Marketa Vondrousova in the second round.  Dita Alangkara, AP

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Day 4: A couple of fans stay "hydrated" on a hot afternoon.  Narendra Shrestha, EPA-EFE

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Day 4: Guillermo Garcia-Lopez reaches for a backhand return against Tomas Berdych during the second round.  Mast Irham, EPA-EFE

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Day 4: The promotions staff stays cool.  Narendra Shrestha, EPA-EFE

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Day 4: Garbine Muguruza tries to cool down between sets against Hsieh Su-Wei during the second round.  Saeed Khan, AFP/Getty Images

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Day 4: Marketa Vondrousova plays a forehand return to Caroline Garcia during the second round.  Dita Alangkara, AP

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Day 4: Barbora Strycova celebrates after defeating Lara Arruabarrena in the second round.  Ng Han Guan, AP

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Caroline Wozniacki reacts after defeating Jana Fett during their second round match.  Andy Brownbill, AP

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Caroline Wozniacki celebrates her win against Jana Fett during the second round.  DEAN LEWINS, EPA-EFE

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Caroline Wozniacki in action against Jana Fett during the second round.  TRACEY NEARMY, EPA-EFE

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Rafael Nadal reacts against Leonardo Mayer during the second round.  TRACEY NEARMY, EPA-EFE

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Rafael Nadal makes a backhand return to Leonardo Mayer during their second round match.  Andy Brownbill, AP

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Jo-Wilfried Tsonga celebrates his win over Denis Shapovalov during their second round match.  Dita Alangkara, AP

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Jo-Wilfried Tsonga celebrates after defeating Denis Shapovalov during their second round match.  Vincent Thian, AP

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Pablo Carreno Busta makes a backhand return to Simon Gilles during their second round match.  Dita Alangkara, AP

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Marin Cilic celebrates a point win over Joao Sousa during their second round match.  Vincent Thian, AP

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Marin Cilic in action against Joao Sousa during the second round.  JULIAN SMITH, EPA-EFE

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Elina Svitolina celebrates her win against Katerina Siniakova during the second round.  DEAN LEWINS, EPA-EFE

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Elina Svitolina hits a return against Katerina Siniakova during their women's singles second round match on Day 3.  WILLIAM WEST, AFP/Getty Images

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Marta Kostyuk celebrates a point win over Olivia Rogowska during their second round match.  Dita Alangkara, AP

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Marta Kostyuk reaches for a forehand return to Olivia Rogowska during their second round match.  Dita Alangkara, AP

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Madison Keys celebrates her win over Wang Qiang during their first round match at the Australian Open.  Ng Han Guan, AP

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Madison Keys celebrates a point win over Wang Qiang during their first round match at the Australian Open.  Ng Han Guan, AP

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Madison Keys in action during her first round match against Wang Qiang at the Australian Open.  MAST IRHAM, EPA-EFE

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Simona Halep celebrates after defeating Destanee Aiava during their first round match at the Australian Open.  Vincent Thian, AP

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Destanee Aiava serves against Simona Halep during on Day 2 of the Australian Open.  LUKAS COCH, EPA-EFE

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Simona Halep grabs her leg before receiving medical treatment in her match against Destanee Aiava on Day 2 of the Australian Open.  JOE CASTRO, EPA-EFE

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Novak Djokovic celebrates beating Donald Young in their men's singles first round match on Day 2 of the Australian Open.  GREG WOOD, AFP/Getty Images

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Novak Djokovic makes a backhand return to Donald Young during their first round match at the Australian Open.  Dita Alangkara, AP

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Stan Wawrinka celebrates his win over Ricardas Berankis during their first round match at the Australian Open.  Andy Brownbill, AP

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Alexander Zverev makes a backhand return to Thomas Fabbiano during their first round match at the Australian Open.  Dita Alangkara, AP

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Maria Sharapova celebrates her victory against Tatjana Maria during their women's singles first round match on Day 2 of the Australian Open.  GREG WOOD, AFP/Getty Images

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Stanislas Wawrinka hits a return against Ricardas Berankis during their men's singles first round match on Day 2 of the Australian Open.  WILLIAM WEST, AFP/Getty Images

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Angelique Kerber runs to make a forehand return to Anna-Lena Friedsam during their first round match at the Australian Open.  Andy Brownbill, AP

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Day 1: Belinda Bencic celebrates her upset victory over Venus Williams in the first round.  Cameron Spencer, Getty Images

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Day 1: Belinda Bencic serves to Venus Williams during the first round.  Joe Castro, EPA-EFE

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Day 1: Venus Williams tries to chase down a forehand return against Belinda Bencic during the first round.  Vincent Thian, AP

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Day 1: Zhang Shuai celebrates her first-round upset of Sloane Stephens.  Dita Alangkara, AP

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Day 1: Zhang Shuai runs down a backhand return against Sloane Stephens during the first round.  William West, AFP/Getty Images

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Day 1: Sloane Stephens laments a missed shot during her first-round loss to Zhang Shuai.  Dita Alangkara, AP

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Day 1: CoCo Vandeweghe lines up a serve against Timea Babos during the first round.  Andy Brownbill, AP

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Day 1: Venus Williams runs down a forehand return against Belinda Bencic during the first round.  Vincent Thian, AP

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Day 1: Jason Kubler laments a missed shot against Pablo Carreno Busta during the first round.  Lukas Coch, EPA-EFE

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Day 1: Jelena Ostapenko celebrates a point over Francesca Schiavone during the first round.  Vincent Thian, AP

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Day 1: Sofia Kenin reaches for a backhand return against Julia Goerges during the first round.  Andy Brownbill, AP

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Day 1: Timea Babos plays a serve to Coco Vandeweghe during the first round.  Saeed Khan, AFP/Getty Images

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Day 1: Denis Istomin plays a backhand return to Pierre-Hugues Herbert during the first round.  Peter Parks, AFP/Getty Images

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Day 1: Ekaterina Makarova plays a forehand return against Irina-Camelia Begu during the first round.  Lukas Coch, EPA-EFE

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Day 1: Pablo Cuevas plays a forehand return against Mikhail Youzhny during the first round.  Mark Cristino, EPA-EFE

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