It was the hottest match on day 3 of the Australian Open and the outcome was even hotter. Home favorite Jelena Dokic, who "went through hell and back" while absent from the tennis world, erased 17th seed Anna Chakvetadze from center court 6-4 6-7 (4) 6-3 and made way into the third round of the Australian Open.

Dokic fought hard, despite having a right foot injury, and claimed the momentous victory over the world No.18 Chakvetadze on her third match point.

The last time Dokic played on Rod Laver Arena was eight years ago. Estranged from her father Damir, in Dokic’s player’s box sat only boyfriend Tim Bikic and her new coach Borna Bikic. After the emotional win, Dokic bowed to the crowd and to her boyfriend.

The Serbian-born Australian, who was once the fourth ranked player in the world, will play 11th seed Caroline Wozniacki in the third round.

Women's Tennis Blog has been following Dokic's comeback closely, so browse through our Jelena Dokic category to read how she has been reviving her tennis career.

Some other notable day 3 results we haven’t already mentioned:

Top seed Jelena Jankovic battled past Kirsten Flipkens 6-4 7-5, seventh seed Vera Zvonareva demolished Edina Gallovits 6-0 6-0, while seed No.19 Daniela Hantuchova beat Mathilde Johansson in three sets.

Chakvetadze was the only seed that lost on the third day, so No.9 seed Agnieszka Radwanska remained the highest fallen seed at the Australian Open so far. (via The Sydney Morning Herald, photo: Getty Images)

I was interested in the outcomes of the first-round matches home favorites Jelena Dokic and Casey Dellacqua were playing on day one of the 2009 Australian Open.

Dokic, who had earned a wildcard into the main draw, registered her first win at Melbourne Park in a decade by beating Austria's Tamira Paszek 6-2 3-6 6-4.

"I went through hell and back," said Dokic, her voice cracking as tears welled in her eyes.

"I pretty much lost my family. I had no-one there. I was really struggling.

"I battled severe depression for about two years. I didn't play for months at a time. I was really seriously thinking about not playing. It was a tough time in my life."

I’m really happy for Dokic, I would like this Wimbledon semifinalist and former world number four to revive her shattered career. She has just made an excellent step forward.

Dokic's next opponent will be 17th seed Anna Chakvetadze, who went past British No.1 Anne Keothavong.

Last year’s Australian sensation, Casey Dellacqua, was defeated in the first round 7-6(11) 6-4 by Slovakian No.9 seed Daniela Hantuchova. In 2008 Dellacqua reached the fourth round, having beaten two Top 20 players en route.

Let’s just mention which seeds fell on the first day. Hungarian hope Agnes Szavay, seeded 23rd at the Australian Open, continued her slide with a loss to world No.95 Galina Voskoboeva 6-3 3-6 6-4. Gorgeous Stella McCartney designs again didn’t get enough exposure, as No.27 seed Maria Kirilenko couldn't make it past round one, losing to Sara Errani 6-0 6-4. No.24 seed Sybille Bammer was beaten by Lucie Safarova 6-3 6-1. (photos: Getty Images)

Jelena Dokic showed more than a glimpse of the form that once took her to No.4 in the world, but still failed to convert several chances and fell to Amelie Mauresmo 7-6(9) 7-6(5) in a tense first-round match at the Brisbane International.

Jelena Dokic, currently ranked 179th, twice served for the first set and also had several set points in a long tiebreak which Mauresmo eventually won 11-9. In the second set, France's Mauresmo served for the match, but Dokic fought back and forced another tiebreak, poised at 5-all before the 25-year-old wildcard conceded it with two errors.

"It hurts knowing I had those chances against her," Dokic said.

"If I got blown away maybe it wouldn't hurt so much."

It’s interesting to note that Dokic hit 31 winners, compared to Mauresmo’s seven. However, Dokic was leading in unforced errors, too – she made 33 to Mauresmo’s six.

In other matches on Monday three seeded players were upset. Fourth seed Daniela Hantuchova fell to Sara Errani 6-7 6-4 6-0, eighth seed Francesca Schiavone was defeated by Olga Govortsova 7-5 6-2, while seed No.9 Ai Sugiyama lost to Samantha Stosur 6-2 6-3. (source: Fox Sports, photo: Ralf Reinecke)

Jelena Dokic has been given a wildcard to the Brisbane International which starts January 4, as a reward for her current good form and support for her comeback.

Former Top 5 player Dokic earned a wildcard into the Australian Open last weekend, after playing six matches in seven days at Melbourne Park.

"Dokic showed she still has what it takes last week at the Australian Open playoff," Brisbane International tournament director Steve Ayles said on Tuesday.

"She is hitting the ball crisply and is regaining form and will be a real contender at the Brisbane International."

World No.178 Dokic spent most of 2008 regaining form on the second tier circuit. (source: The Age, photo: Ralf Reinecke)

Former world No.4 and Wimbledon semifinalist Jelena Dokic won a wildcard into the main draw of the 2009 Australian Open beating Monica Wejnert 6-7(3) 7-5 6-3 in a play-off on Sunday.

Wejnert was the only player Dokic fell to during the play-off, it was in the round-robin phase, but the 25-year-old Dokic learned her lesson and didn’t let that happen one more time.

The Serbian-born Australian, ranked 179th in the world, will now attempt to qualify for tune-up tournaments in Brisbane and Hobart before taking her place in the main draw of the Australian Open which starts January 19. (source: International Herlad Tribune, photo: Ralf Reinecke)