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Three-time French Open winner Serena Williams will go up against Brazil’s world no. 81, Teliana Pereira,in the second-round. Join The Roar for live scores from 11pm (AEST).
Williams had a short build up to the second grand slam of the year, only playing in one tournament at Rome and winning it convincingly.
Williams won all five of her matches in Rome in straight sets, defeating Madison Keys in the final 7-6, 6-3. In fact, that first set which went to a tie breaker was one of only two across the whole tournament for Williams. She is cruising, but clay has been traditionally her worst surface with a winning percentage of ‘only’ 80 per cent.
That winning percentage being lower is backed up in the fact she has won every other grand slam at least five times.
Her first round effort against Magdalena Rybarikova was a demolition job as she won 6-2, 6-0.
Pereira has only played in the French Open twice, being knocked out in the second round both of the last two years. It is her best grand slam performance as well, having played at each of the other three slams twice and being knocked out in the first round each time.
Pereira is a clay court specialist in a true sense of the word and, out of 527 career matches, she has somehow managed to play a grand total of 418 on clay. That is an incredible statistic, and considering she has kept herself in the top 100 of the WTA Rankings, it means she is doing something right.
Her form in the lead-up to the second grand slam of the year – despite a long run-in – has been ordinary. Pereira has played nine matches on clay, of which she has won just three, including her first round performance – a three-set win against Kristyna Pliskova.
The pair have never faced off before, and it should be assumed that the element of surprise will be on Pereira’s side for the match. That is just about the only advantage she has though.
Prediction
Serena Williams won’t lose the match, won’t lose a set and Pereira would be lucky to win a single game.
Williams in straight sets.
Be sure to join The Roar for live scores of this match from 11pm (AEST) and don’t forget to add your own comments in the section below.
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