ROME, Italy - For the second time this year, Czech teenager Marketa Vondrousova scored a statement win over reigning Roland Garros champion Simona Halep.

The World No.44 came from a set down to shock the No.3 seed and two-time defending finalist in the round of 32 on Thursday, 2-6, 7-5, 6-3.

Vondrousova previously beat Halep for the best win of her career in terms of ranking in Indian Wells, winning another three-setter in the round of 16 at the Premier Mandatory event, 6-2, 3-6, 6-2.

"It was on hard, so it was different. I just played great match, I think. I was just really enjoying myself out there. The crowd was amazing," Vondrousova said.

"I'm just very happy with the win. [With the rain], we [had] yesterday like 30 minutes warmup, then it rained. I just want to keep playing my game. I'll do my best to do it."

After being blitzed in the opening set in just about a half hour, losing the last four games, Vondrousova worked her way back into the match to seal an upset in two hours, and 12 minutes.

The left-hander led by a break twice in the second set before eventuall settling her nerves to stretch the match to a decider in its late stages, and scored the decisive break in the eighth game of the final set.

The Romanian dealt with a leg issue in the late stages of the match, receiving a medical timeout, but played down concerns ahead of her title defense at Roland Garros while being complimentary of the Czech teenager.

"I think she's very talented. She's a very good player. For sure, she's going to be in the top, in my opinion," Halep said.

"The lefty, it's always difficult to play against. She serves well, moves well. She can slice all the balls that are very far to her, which is a good thing for her.

"A little bit in the second set, I started to feel [her leg] I think a little bit from sliding. Yesterday, I didn't do much. I had two days off, so it was a little bit tough to get back to this rhythm, very high rhythm.

"Nothing, like, tight or something broken. Is just a little bit of injury, which in a few days is going to be okay, I'm sure."

Vondrousova later faced Daria Kasatkina in the second match for both on the day, after the Russian also rallied from a set down in her second round win over Katerina Siniakova, 2-6, 6-4, 6-1.

She was again extended to three sets, but closed out the former Top 10 player 7-5, 2-6, 6-2 to advance to a quarterfinal meeting with Johanna Konta.