MELBOURNE, Feb. 14 (Xinhua) -- Japanese tennis star Naomi Osaka advanced to the quarterfinals of the Australian Open on Sunday, after bouncing back to win an epic three-set clash with Spain's Garbine Muguruza, 4-6, 6-4, 7-5.

Japan's Naomi Osaka hits a forehand return to Spain's Garbine Muguruza during their fourth round match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Sunday, Feb. 14, 2021. (Photo: AP)

Osaka came from 3-5 down in the third set, saving two match points and winning four straight games to move past her opponent who also was one of the more formidable players in the tournament.

Muguruza who lost last year's AO final against Sofia Kenin, however, is no stranger to Grand Slam victory. She won the French Open in 2016 and Wimbledon in 2017, helping launch her to a stint as World No. 1.

"I feel like I was a bit intimidated because I knew she was playing really well coming into this match," Osaka said.

Muguruza showed early on that she meant business, coming back from 0-2 down in the first set to gain an early advantage. She was helped by a far lower rate of unforced errors than Osaka who had 14 in the first set, compared with Muguruza's six.

Spain's Garbine Muguruza hits a forehand return to Japan's Naomi Osaka during their fourth round match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Sunday, Feb. 14, 2021. (Photo: AP)

"I know that today I probably hit a lot of unforced errors, but I think it was something I needed to do because I couldn't really give her any short balls because she would finish it," Osaka explained.

Osaka switched gears in the second set, grabbing three games in quick succession to edge ahead and put the pressure back on her opponent. Muguruza defended two set-point opportunities on her serve, but Osaka was undeterred, claiming the break and forcing a third set decider.

With both players finding their rhythm, the third set looked like it could go either way. However, a double fault by Osaka helped Muguruza find the break in the fifth game and the advantage.

Osaka fought back in the ninth game preventing two match points and served out the match. A calm and collected Osaka then snatched back a break in the tenth game and holding serve to edge in front from 3-5 down.

Osaka finished the match with a break of her opponent's serve, explaining afterward that during stressful points she finds a way to go inside herself, helping her pull off one of the most surprising wins of the AO so far.

"Overall I think it was a pretty good match," Muguruza said. "We had a lot of great points. I felt, of course, a little bit disappointing being 5-3 in the third set up (and) having match points."

"It's never a good feeling losing a match that you feel you could have changed in one second. But I left the court with a good feeling, very good feeling of this tournament in general."