Sam Stosur has kept alive her dream of ending Australia’s title drought at the French Open by fending off world No.1 Serena Williams in a three-set thriller overnight.

The Queenslander looked to have butchered her chance of toppling the American when she wobbled while serving out the second set and allowed the 12-time major winner back in their epic quarter-final clash.

Winner ... Samantha Stosur Credit:Reuters

But the 26-year-old produced two stunning passing shots late in the deciding set to break Williams's serve before going on to win 6-2 6-7 (2-7) 8-6 in two hours and 24 minutes.

"When I got that next chance [to serve it out] at 7-6, I wasn’t going to let the same thing happen again," she said.