There could not be more of a difference between the first and the second matches of the day on Rod Laver and Hisense Arenas, respectively. With fourth seed Li Na facing 26th seed Lucie Safarova of the Czech Republic and would No. 3 David Ferrer taking on flashy Frenchman Jeremy Chardy, sparks were eventually going to fly. And fly they did on both courts, as both higher seeds faced stiff resistance.

The first match saw China’s Li Na one point away from her earliest elimination in the Australian Open since the 2008 event. And the game never looked safe in Li’s hands until the world No. 4 held her serve to seal victory in the ninth game of the third set.

Safarova was essentially gifted the first set as Li made a whopping 18 unforced errors to just two winners. This was met with just seven unforced errors by the Czech in a tidy performance as she took the first set 6-1. The second set transformed into a battle royale as the crowd at Hisense Arena sensed a lift in the intensity of the match and responded, strapping in for what would become a true rollercoaster.

The second set remained deadlocked with both players winning a decent percentage of their first serves. There wasn’t so much as a drop in intensity from Safarova as there was a clear increase in the quality of tennis from Li’s end. But it would eventually be a case of missed opportunities for the Czech 26th seed. Holding match point at 30-40 in the 12th game of the second set, an errant backhand would eventually prove costly as Li went on to win the second set in a tiebreak. Although winning the second set, she still had hit less winners and more unforced errors than her Czech opponent.

One would have been forgiven for thinking that Safarova was the world No. 4 as her Nadal-like lefty forehand constantly troubled Li. Safarova’s disappointment at not winning the match in the second set could evidently not be overcome as she waned from the quality she showed in the first and second sets. And unfortunately the third set did not accurately portray the closeness of the match as Li eventually overpowered the left-hander.

Liwas incredibly relieved post-match, acknowledging how close she was to being eliminated from the tournament. “I think five centimeters saved my tournament,” laughed Li. “If she hit in [on the match point], I think the whole team is on the way to the airport.”

But she was thankful for her fighting qualities. “At least I won the match, so I’m still in the tournament,” said Li philosophically. “I was really happy with the way I fought on the court from the first point until the last point.”

Moving further into the tournament, Li admitted she needed to work on a number of things in her game. “I like to play (in a) Grand Slam because after the match at least we have one day off, so you can prepare for what you do from last match,” she observed. “You have more time to talk to the team, to change little bit and prepare for the next match also.”

On the other hand, Safarova looked justifiably distraught after the close loss. “It’s really disappointing, I was about five centimeters from winning the match, so it’s just something you don’t like to experience,” the visibly disappointed Czech said. “But it is what it is. It’s tennis and she pulled it out. She was hanging there and playing really well in the third set, so she deserved to win.”

Across Melbourne Park, Spain’s David Ferrer was engaged in an equally engrossing contest against the French battler Jeremy Chardy on Rod Laver Arena. With a ranking disparity of 26 places and Ferrer well known as one of the fittest players on the ATP World Tour, there wasn’t too much expectation of an upset. But, despite the straight sets win, Chardy made the Spaniard work hard in the second set, serving for the set before forcing him to a tightly contested tiebreak.

It was essentially business as usual in the first set as Ferrer outwore his younger opponent, breaking the Frenchman in the fifth and the seventh game. Chardy didn’t help himself, making 21 unforced errors to just seven from the world No. 3. Ferrer sealed the first set with an unreturnable serve as the crowd began to expect much of the same in the next two sets.

They were treated to a different kind of match in the second set as Chardy hit back at Ferrer, and the match suddenly turned in a stalemate of sorts. Chardy managed to break Ferrer in the eighth game and had two set points in the 12th game. Unfortunately for the Frenchman, he made two costly errors and was unable to convert. Ferrer took advantage of this and broke back to take the set to a tiebreaker. Trailing in the tiebreaker, Ferrer’s intensity from the first set returned as he managed to come back from 4-1 down and win the set. Sensing his opponent’s disappointment from not closing out the second set, Ferrer struck, won the third set and sealed the match in two hours and 12 minutes.

Ferrer afterwards was ruing his loss in intensity in the second set. “With 4-3 in the second set I did a lot of mistakes,” he lamented. “And, well, 5-3 for him. He had set points down (on his racquet). Finally (after coming back) I could win the second set so I was very lucky.”

The ever-pragmatic Spaniard acknowledged the luck he received in his victory. “I got lucky, I think, when I won the second set, because when I won the game at 5-3, I had also 6-5, 15-40, Ferrer said.  “He called one challenge and the ball was on the line, it was very close. In the tiebreak also with 5-5 I challenged and it was out.  And, well, it's tennis, no? In the important moments I got lucky and not him, no?”