In a battle of former World no 1's, Serena Williams of America overcame first set deficit to defeat Dane Caroline Wozniacki 1-6, 6-3, 6-2  in the pre-quarter-final match of 2012 Madrid Open.

Wozniacki looked in absolute comfort in the opening set as Williams committed too many unforced errors to get her broken three times in the set and lost the set 1-6.

Match cast: Serena vs Wozniacki

Howver in the second set, Williams regrouped herself and broke Wozniacki at 3-2 and for the second time in the ninth game to take the set into the deciding set. The American continued to play with the same intensity, which she displayed in the second set and raced to 4-1 lead with the help on an early break in the second game.

She broke Wozniacki for another time while Wozniacki was serving to stay in the set and post the victory in three sets.

The American will next face Russian Maria Sharapova, who got an easy entry into the quarter-finals as her opponent Lucie Safarova of Czech Republic withdrew because of an injury.