Serena set to test Ash
ASH Barty is plotting Serena Williams’s French Open downfall after the comeback queens steamed into a Roland Garros blockbuster.
Queensland’s Barty and grand slam titan Williams, contesting her first tournament since childbirth last year, will square off for a place in the third round.
And Barty, who returned to the circuit after an 18-month hiatus last year, cannot wait to test Williams.
“You want to play the big names and you want to test yourself against the best, and I think any opportunity you can do that is good,” she said.
Williams and Barty have played only once, with the American posting an easy win at the 2014 Australian Open.
“It’s been a few years now. And I think I’ll have to use those experiences, both the good and the bad from that match, going into my next match,” Barty said.
“But I think I’m in a very different place. I think Serena is also in a very different place.
“And I think just what an opportunity. She’s a genuine champion. “
Williams was equally effusive about Barty, saying she was “playing unbelievable” and having an “amazing” year this year, as she did in 2017.
“She does everything great. You know, I’ll be excited to go out and see what I can do,” she said.
Barty was the first to reach the second round, showing no sign of back soreness in demolishing Russian Natalia Vikhlyantseva 6-3, 6-1.
Competing at her first grand slam match since winning last year’s Australian Open, Williams then survived Czech Kristyna Pliskova 7-6 (7-4), 6-3.