Top seed Serena Williams had to come from a set down to avoid a second-round exit in the French Open as she beat Anna-Lena Friedsam 5-7, 6-3, 6-3 on Thursday.
Williams bowed out at the same stage in last season's competition to Garbine Muguruza. It appeared she was on course to join beaten seeds Simona Halep and Caroline Wozniacki.
MORE: Wozniacki out | Halep out | Venus Williams out | Maria Sharapova booed | Serena's sore elbow
Friedsam, ranked 105th in the world, could not dispose of the two-time French Open winner. Williams came through despite making 52 unforced errors.
In an uncharacteristically poor first set, Williams dropped serve three times and made five double faults.
Having gained the early initiative in their first career meeting, Friedsam held her nerve in the opening stages of the second.
While Friedsam dropped serve in the sixth, she hit back to break a game later.
That proved to be in vain, with Williams able to level up as Friedsam mustered one winner in a 38-minute second set.
MORE: Must-see French Open action images | Latest fashions from Paris
Williams built a 3-1 lead in the final set with the help of an early break, but Friedsam continued to stay in touch, producing a gutsy showing to fight back from 40-0 down in the seventh.
It mattered little, however, as Williams broke again in the final game to end any fears of what would have been a major upset for the 19-time Grand Slam winner.
Instead, Williams will compete in her 12th third-round clash at Roland Garros.