The Roar
The Roar

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Serena ousts Barty from French Open

Serena Williams' greatest tournament win came at Melbourne Park a decade ago. (AFP PHOTO/ Martin Bernetti)
31st May, 2018
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Ashleigh Barty’s brave bid to cut short Serena Williams’ grand slam comeback has ended in a tense three-set French Open defeat for the Australian No.1.

Barty appeared to be careering towards a famous victory before letting slip a one-set advantage in the 3-6 6-3 6-4 second-round loss in Paris.

Seemingly unfazed by the occasion, Barty broke the 23-times major champion early in the second set to surge further ahead before Williams willed her way back into the enthralling contest on Court Philippe-Chatrier.

Barty’s game plan to move Williams from side to side in the hope of exhausting the underdone champion in just her sixth match back since giving birth last September initially paid dividends.

But the grand slam colossus drew on her unrivalled fighting qualities – and energy reserves some doubted she still possessed at almost 37 and eight months into motherhood – to stave off Australia’s 17th seed after one hour and 46 minutes.

“It’s disappointing because I was well and truly in the match. And I felt off the baseline I was no issues at all,” Barty said.

“I would love to have five or six forehands again, a couple of those errors, and a couple more first serves, and I think it could be a different outcome.”

Williams admitted she didn’t know how she managed to turn the match around from a set and a break down.

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“I lost the first set and I thought I’ve got to try harder. I’ve got to just try harder and Serena came out,” she said with relief after setting up a third-round date with German 11th seed Julia Goerges on Saturday.

Barty’s exit leaves former finalist Samantha Stosur and 24th seed Daria Gavrilova to fly the Australian flag.

Stosur, runner-up at Roland Garros in 2010 and a semi-finalist in 2009, 2012 and 2016, is through to the third round for the 10th straight year.

The veteran clay-court star plays 2016 champion Garbine Muguruza in a repeat of their semi-final two years ago after denying doubles partner Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova 6-2 7-6 (7-1) earlier on Thursday.

Gavrilova saved a match point in snatching a 5-7 7-5 6-3 victory from the jaws of defeat against American Bernarda Pera.

The great escape set up a return clash with Belgian 16th seed Elise Mertens, who eliminated Gavrilova from both last year’s French Open and the Australian Open in January.

With Williams controversially unseeded after falling to 451st in the world during her 16-month maternity leave from the tour, Thursday’s blockbuster between tennis’ two comeback queens was the talk of the tournament.

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Williams was once again commanding the world’s attention in her full-body black and red catsuit that she hopes “inspires all mums”, especially ones who have also suffered post-pregnancy health issues.

Barty, though, had her own motivations and looked comfortable from the outset in her first appearance on Roland Garros’s centre court.

After having Williams constantly under pressure on serve early, Barty finally broke the three-times French Open champion to love in the sixth game.

Aided by a double-fault and an overcooked forehand from Williams, Barty moved to 5-2 before consolidating the break and then closing out the first set in 31 minutes.

But the match turned almost from the instant Williams released a primal roar after blasting a backhand return winner after being broken in the opening game of the second set.

The dramatic release of frustration sparked an adrenaline surge that carried Williams all the way to her fighting comeback win.

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