Search

show me:

Scrappy French Open win for Barty

3 minute read

Australian Ashleigh Barty has scraped her way through a straight-sets victory over Jessica Pegula to move into the French Open second round.

ASHLEIGH BARTY of Australia plays a backhand against Camila Giorgi of Italy of the 2018 Australian Open at Melbourne Park in Australia.
ASHLEIGH BARTY of Australia plays a backhand against Camila Giorgi of Italy of the 2018 Australian Open at Melbourne Park in Australia. Picture: Scott Barbour/Getty Images

Australian Ashleigh Barty has survived a bumpy ride to book her spot in the French Open second round.

The eighth seed beat American Jessica Pegula 6-3 6-3 to make it three from three for Australians, after Alex de Minaur and Alexei Popyrin's earlier victories on the Paris clay.

It was far from conventional from the top-ranked Australian though, who let handy leads slip in both sets, before recovering in time to claim the scrappy win in exactly an hour.

Barty led 4-0 in the first set before being broken twice by the free-swinging world No.72.

Order looked to be restored when the Australian broke again to claim the set and move ahead 2-0 in the second stanza.

But again she wandered from the path, Pegula breaking back and suddenly finding herself 0-40 on Barty's serve and ahead 3-2.

The Miami Open champion flicked the switch at that point though, salvaging a hold of serve and powering to victory without conceding another game.

The win takes her to 25-5 this season, having skipped last week's Strasbourg International to manage an arm injury she says should not impact her performance in Paris.

Barty, who has never progressed beyond the second round at Roland Garros, will next play the winner of Australian Open semi-finalist Danielle Collins and Tatjana Maria.

Think. Is this a bet you really want to place?

For free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit www.gamblinghelponline.org.au