France's Lois Boisson survived a three-hour, 24-minute slugfest with Hungary's Dalma Galfi on Thursday, advancing to the second round of the China Open in Beijing with a 7-6 (6), 5-7, 6-2 win.

It was the second marathon match of the WTA 1000 tournament already, with Greece's Maria Sakkari outlasting Ashlyn Krueger 7-6 (5), 6-7 (5), 7-5 in three hours and 29 minutes on Wednesday.

Boisson overcame a 4-3 deficit in the first set to force the tiebreak, where she fought off a set point. Galfi rallied from 3-1 down in the second set to force the decider, where she survived Boisson's first three match points before succumbing.

Boisson saved nine of 12 break points and Galfi saved 11 of 15. Boisson struck six aces and advanced to face 19th-seeded Liudmila Samsonova of Russia.

In another tightl

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