Caroline Wozniacki back from the brink

Caroline Wozniacki has survived two match points and a mid-match lecture from the umpire to scramble into the Australian Open third round with a drama-charged win over lowly-ranked Croat Jana Fett.

The second seed came perilously close to an early and ugly exit in a tension-filled 3-6 6-2 7-5 win at Melbourne Park on Wednesday.

Wozniacki’s great escape from 5-1, 40-15 down in the deciding set earned her a date on Friday with Dutchwoman Kiki Bertens or American Nicole Gibbs for a spot in the second week.

The world No.2 admitted to being hugely relieved after reeling off the last six games as her bold challenger tightened.

“That was crazy. I don’t know how I got back into the match,” Wozniacki said.

“I’ve never played her before. She’s a tricky opponent. She had nothing to lose.”

Fett twice faltered when serving for the match and a place in a grand slam third round for the first time after Wozniacki fell foul of the chair umpire for a second time early in the third set.

Wozniacki was fuming after having a point contentiously replayed before dropping serve to hand Fett a break and a 2-1 lead.

“Oh, so you’re giving her the benefit of the doubt, but you’re not giving it to me?” she asked British official Richard Haigh before dumping a volley into the net, then thrashing her racquet into the court in disgust after dropping serve.

The incident came after Haigh denied the former world No.1 a challenge for taking too long during her second-set fightback, much to Wozniacki’s disgust.

“What are you talking about? I’m hitting two hands on the backhand. What do you want me to do? Like, hit it one hand and shout,” she quizzed Haigh.

But the steadfast official was having none of it.

“You need to be faster. You can’t wait until that one bounces and then say challenge. I told you at the pre-match meeting to use your voice and not just lift your arm,” he fired back.

“You waited to see the result of your shot then you said challenge.”

Wozniacki retained her composure to win the second set and level the match, but it wasn’t long before she came under the gun again as Fett threatened to pull off what would have been the boilover of the Open.