Samantha Stosur has upset top seed Amelie Mauresmo in three sets to advance to the third round of the Italian Open in Rome.

The Australian world No.29 fended off two match points in the deciding set to triumph 7-5 6-7 (4-7) 7-6 (9-7).

It was Stosur's first ever victory over the world No.4, after she failed to even take a set off the Frenchwoman in their previous five meetings.

It is also the first time Stosur has advanced past the second round of this WTA tournament, with the 23-year-old to meet Swiss Patty Schnyder in the round of 16.

Meanwhile, second seed Svetlana Kuznetsova and No.3 Jelena Jankovic have advanced.

Kuznetsova beat Mara Santangelo 6-3 6-3, and Jankovic eliminated 16-year-old Austrian qualifier Tamira Paszek 6-3 6-4.

Sixth seed Dinara Safina also advanced, beating Kaia Kanepi 7-6 (7-5) 6-2.

Tenth seed Elena Dementieva eliminated Catalina Castano 6-4 6-3.

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