BEIJING, China – World No.1 Angelique Kerber overcame a spirited rearguard effort – and some inspired shotmaking – from Barbora Strycova on Wednesday to take her place in the third round of the China Open.

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In an entertaining conclusion, Kerber twice failed to serve out the match before finally completing a 6-3, 7-6(4) victory. The German will now face Elina Svitolina for a place in the quarterfinals.

“The match was on a really high level at the end of the second set. We run a lot, both of us. I think we both have a great return, so I think that was also the key from both of us to breaking back,” Kerber said. “She breaks me back, and then I break her back.

“The games were still close. It was not like I lost my serve to zero or 15. There were still good points during my service games.”

After dominating their first four meetings on tour, Kerber has found Strycova a more difficult nut to crack this year. In Madrid, the Czech ran out a surprisingly comfortable straight-set winner, before threatening to repeat the upset in Cincinnati.

Once again, Kerber found Strycova in combative mood, testing her nerve as the finishing line beckoned. Several times the top seed looked to have broken her opponent’s will, yet each time she was unable to deliver the final blow.

Even with a commanding lead in the tie-break, Strycova continued to chase down lost causes, reducing her arrears to 4-3 before finally succumbing when she pulled a weary forehand wide.

“It was back and forth. In the final tie-break, I was just trying to forget about everything that happened before, just being in the tie-break, starting from zero,” Kerber added. “I was 4-0. She came back again. It was actually an up-and-down tie-break as well. But finally I won it, so it was a good match at the end for me.”