Good morning and welcome to Eurosport's LIVE coverage of the Australian Open women's singles third round match between Veronika Kudermetova and Simona Halep. The number two seed had to fight through her second round match to get this far. Indeed, it looked like Halep was down and out in the third set against Ajla Tomljanovic. 32 seed Veronika Kudermetova will put up a fight here as well! The two players are on Rod Laver Arena warming up before we get under way.

V. Kudermetova vs S. Halep | Australian Open

Women's Singles | Round 3 | 12.02.2021 | Rod Laver Arena

Completed

V. Kudermetova (32)

S. Halep (2)

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Live Updates

ByMarcus Foley

Updated 12/02/2021 at 09:35 GMT

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Highlights

09:35

09:26

KUDERMETOVA 1-6, 3-6 HALEP

Halep is into the fourth round with a strong performance against Kudermetova! The number two seed takes the match in straight sets. There was just too many errors from the Russian. In terms of the dynamic of the contest, it was closer than the scoreline suggests.

09:22

KUDERMETOVA 3-5 HALEP* (1-6)

A long, long game and Halep ultimately breaks! Good resolve from Kudermetova who saved a couple break points before she was eventually ground down. Halep will now serve for a place in the fourth round.

09:12

*KUDERMETOVA 3-4 HALEP (1-6)

That was a bit of a free pass for Halep in that game. Is this the moment that the second set has turned for the number two seed? Kudermetova just doesn't have the concentration to maintain her level over a prolonged period of time against Halep. Not today, anyway.

09:09

KUDERMETOVA 3-3 HALEP* (1-6)

The pattern continues. Just as it seems Kedermetova might start to stamp her authority on this match, she is broken and we are back on serve in this second set. Halep has ramped things up with her forehand.

09:01

*KUDERMETOVA 3-2 HALEP (1-6)

A break! It's a second break of the Halep serve in this second set and there are certainly signs that Kudermetova is starting to settle down. The Russian is a threat to the number two seed and that is showing now.

08:59

KUDERMETOVA 2-2 HALEP* (1-6)

After five successive breaks on her serve, Kudermetova has held. But she had to fight for that! The Russian had to save two break points, but holds with a corss-court, backhand winner. That took some steel.

08:51

*KUDERMETOVA 1-2 HALEP (1-6)

Halep has settled at the start of this second set and edges ahead on the scoreboard by consolidating the break back. 10 unforced errors off the forehand side from Kedermetova now. That's just too many.

08:48

KUDERMETOVA 1-1 HALEP* (1-6)

That's disappointing. Just as it seemed Kudermetova was getting her teeth into this match, the errors return and Halep responds immediately with a break back. Back on serve in this second set.

08:45

08:44

*KUDERMETOVA 1-0 HALEP (1-6)

Well, there we go. Kudermetova grabs her first break of the match right at the start of the second set, taking break point with a volley at the net. Halep just allowed her focus to slip after the first set.

08:39

KUDERMETOVA 1-6 HALEP

There's the first set and it goes the way of Halep in half an hour. There were just too many errors by Kudermetova, summed up by how she brought up set point against herself with a double fault and then followed it up with a loose forehand into the tramlines.

08:32

*KUDERMETOVA 1-5 HALEP

This match is unravelling quickly for Kudermetova who will now serve to stay in this first set. After a good start by the Russian, her range has gone. And Halep has started finding her first serve.

08:28

KUDERMETOVA 1-4 HALEP*

It's a second break from Halep and the number two seed is now dominating this match. It is being played on her terms. Halep takes the first of two break points with a cross-court, backhand return winner.

08:25

*KUDERMETOVA 1-3 HALEP

Kudermetova had two break back points, but couldn't take either of them as Halep consolidates the break to open up a gap in this first set. The Russian had some real opportunities there! Unforced errors.

08:18

KUDERMETOVA 1-2 HALEP*

There's the first break of the match and it goes the way of Halep! A rather fortunate net cord brought up three break points for the number two seed and she took the first of them with a backhand return winner down the line.

08:15

*KUDERMETOVA 1-1 HALEP

The number two seed is on the board, but not without a bit of a fight. Indeed, Halep initially struggled to deal with Kudermetova's power at 0-30 down. But she grinds out the hold.

08:11

KUDERMETOVA 1-0 HALEP*

A strong start by the 32 seed. Kudermetova is very positive and aggresive right from the beginning and brings up 40-0 with a couple winners. A backhand error gives Halep a look at 40-15, but she puts a passing shot in the net as the Russian holds.

08:09

Kudermetova to serve first... let's get this going!