In third round matches, Pavlyuchenkova had upset one of the fancies coming into the event, Elina Svitolina. Kuznetsova was a set and a break up against Jelena Jankovic before having to fight desperately for her victory 9-7 in the third.
Although Sveta enjoys a 5-2 head to head record, Anastasia will be happy in the knowledge that she won their last meeting - second round in Sydney leading into this Aus Open.
Sveta invited Anastasia to serve first. Two clean winners were the catalyst to an easy hold while a double fault and two wayward forehands from Sveta had her down three break points. The break arrived on the second of these, leaving Anastasia ahead 2-0.
Pavlyuchenkova continued to feast on the Kuznetsova mistakes and served a love game to consolidate the break.
At 15-30 an off forehand winner seemed to click Sveta into action an she proceeded to win the game but still trail 1-3. No pressure at all on the Anastasia serve, an ace confirming another hold for 4-1.
Two forehand winners from the Pavlyuchenkova racquet, one crosscourt, the other down the line, helped set up two break points, both saved. A double fault donated another chance, which was gratefully taken with another clean winner, and Anastasia led 5-1.
Serving for the set, things became a little trickier. Kuznetsova played better, smarter tennis, forcing errors from a more defensive Pavlyuchenkova. Two break points were offered following the best shot yet from Sveta, a passing shot down the backhand side of Anastasia. Only one was needed, and one of the breaks was retrieved. 2-5.
Soon it was 5-3 and Anastasia trying a second time to serve for the set. Two service winners and 40-0 - this was a much better attempt. A double fault and 40-30 and the nerves were showing. However the passing shot to win the set settled everything.
6-3 Pavlyuchenkova.
Game one of set two began with a Sveta forehand winner, was filled with lots of mistakes but ended with two Anastasia delights - a running forehand passing shot to set up a break point (shot of the match) and then a down the line backhand to secure the service break.
A forehand winner sealed the next game and a 2-0 lead for Anastasia who would take plenty of reeling in from here.
Sveta began the task in the right fashion, holding serve without fuss and sticking close 1-2. Just for the moment, though. The Pavlyuchenkova serve was rock solid, and 3-1 was reached with no complications.
A love game and 2-3 still in touch.
Game six brought Sveta back into the picture when Anastasia sent a couple of shots long and wide and presented two break points. A netted forehand on the second of these saw the score at 3-3.
Four errors in the next game and the score was 30-30. Then the standard lifted. A backhand return winner from Anastasia gave her a break point which was saved with a lovely passing shot from Sveta. Another backhand from Anastasia forced a Sveta error and the resultant break point was converted with a forehand winner.
Anastasia led 4-3 with a break.
Downcast, Sveta hit a number of unforced errors in the Anastasia service game to follow, and at 3-5 she was staring at a straight sets defeat.
Match point arrived with a netted shot from Sveta and was saved with a winner from the same racquet.
A glorious backhand return winner from Anastasia saved a game point, and an errant Sveta backhand brought up a second match point.
It was won once the final Sveta shot found the bottom of the net.
Impressively into the quarter final is Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova 6-3 6-3.
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