Williams could face Sharapova
TRIUMPHANT: SERENA AND MARIA IN 2ND ROUND WINS
Nadal breezes into third round and clash against Gasquet.
Serena Williams battled back from a set and break down to defeat Australia’s Ashleigh Barty 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 to reach the French Open third round yesterday.
The three-time champion and former world number one, dressed again in her all-black catsuit, is playing her first Slam since winning the 2017 Australian Open while two months pregnant.
The 36-year-old, seeking a 24th Grand Slam title, will face Germany’s Julia Goerges for a place in the last 16. If she gets past the third round, Williams could face old rival Maria Sharapova for a place in the quarter-finals.
“It’s just incredible,” said Williams. “I am so happy to be back here. I lost the first set and thought I must try harder, I must try harder and then Serena came out.”
Williams had cruised through her opening round match against Kristyna Pliskova in what was a record 317th win at the Slams.
But yesterday was a tougher proposition for the American who was playing just her sixth match of 2018.
Sharapova, the champion in Paris in 2012 and 2014, saw off Donna Vekic 7-5, 6-4 in a tie which featured 10 breaks of serve and secured on a fifth match point.
Former world number one Sharapova, seeded 28 this year, will face Czech sixth seed Karolina Pliskova for a place in the fourth round.
The Russian star is playing in Paris for the first time since a quarter-final run in 2015. She served a doping ban in 2016 and was refused a wild card last year.
Ten-time champion Rafael Nadal breezed into the third round and a clash against childhood friend Richard Gasquet.
Top seed and world number one, Nadal – chasing an 11th title – swept past Argentinian Guido Pella 6-2, 6-1, 6-1, showing no signs of the brief struggles he faced in the first round against lucky loser Simone Bolelli.
The 31-year-old will next face home favourite, and his old junior rival Gasquet, whom he has beaten 15 times from as many meetings in professional tennis.
Top seed Simona Halep reached the third round with a comfortable 6-3, 6-1 win over America’s Taylor Townsend. –