LYON — Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin fought off a match point against world number 174 Jacqueline Cristian to reach the quarterfinals of the WTA event in Lyon on Thursday.

Kenin, who had lost her opening matches in both Dubai and Doha in recent weeks, made it consecutive wins in Lyon as she scraped through 6-7 (5/7), 7-5, 6-4.

The fifth-ranked American was on the brink of defeat as Romania's Cristian had match point on her serve at 5-4. Kenin rallied to break her opponent and then forced a third set.

The top seed failed to serve out victory while leading 5-3 in the decider but sealed her place in the next round with a break in the following game.

"Obviously I didn't feel my game that well — I was pretty frustrated the whole match, I couldn't find my rhythm, but I just tried to fight through," Kenin told the WTA website.

"I got the win - it's a relief and I'm happy."

Kenin, 21, will next meet France's Oceane Dodin, who received a walkover against Jil Teichmann of Switzerland.

Second seed Kristina Mladenovic crashed out in the second round after a 6-3, 6-3 loss to Germany's Anna-Lena Friedsam. — AFP