Serena digs deep to see off Barty at French Open

Serena Williams showed that her fighting spirit remains as strong as ever in a battling three-set win over Australia’s Ash Barty at the French Open.

The American, playing her first Grand Slam tournament in 15 months, came back from a set and break down to win 3-6 6-3 6-4 and reach the third round.

Williams was playing just her second clay-court match since 2016, and her sixth anywhere since January 2017, having stepped away from tennis while pregnant with her daughter, Alexis Olympia.

Barty, the No.17 seed, was expected to give the 23-time Grand Slam champion a test and so it proved, with the Australian coming close to a landmark victory.

REPORT: Nadal through to face Gasquet

After dominating the first set behind some solid serving, as Williams struggled with her groundstrokes, Barty moved ahead early in the second.

The growing threat only served to inspire Williams, however, and she powered through four straight games on the way to forcing a decider.

“I want to be able to just do my best and one day tell my daughter that I tried my best.

When I was out there, that's all I was trying to do.”

– @serenawilliams
#RG18 pic.twitter.com/8RhnGP6ZWd

— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) May 31, 2018

With Barty refusing to yield across the net, Williams had to raise her level further as she defended a lone break of serve through to the finish line after one hour and 46 minutes.

“I have definitely always had that will to win,” said the 36-year-old.

“It was something I was born with, thank goodness.

“You know, this is a Grand Slam. This is my first one back. I want to do the best that I can. I want to be able to just do my best and one day tell my daughter that I tried my best.

RESULTS: Latest scores from Roland Garros

“When I was out there, that’s all I was just trying to do, is just do that.”

Barty admitted: “When push came to shove, the real Serena came out. And that’s one of her best assets: when her back is against the wall, the best comes out.”

Williams goes on to face Germany’s Julia Goerges in round three.

Sharapova ready for Pliskova test

Another former champion making her way back up the rankings progressed on day five as two-time winner Maria Sharapova defeated Croatia’s Donna Vekic 7-5 6-4.

The Russian, seeded (28th) at a Grand Slam for the first time since returning from her doping suspension last April, next faces sixth seed Karolina Pliskova, who beat Lucie Safarova 3-6 6-4 6-1.

“I don’t expect extremely long rallies against an opponent like her,” said Sharapova.

“But sometimes it’s not what it takes to win a match, and I think you have to kind of take care of your service games, and I have to serve better than I have been and take care of the return.”

Top seed Simona Halep returned to action 24 hours after her stuttering, rain-delayed start against Alison Riske, making much shorter work of Taylor Townsend with a 6-3 6-1 second-around win.

The Romanian wil play former semifinalist Andrea Petkovic of Germany in round three.

Third seed and 2016 champion Garbine Muguruza continues to impress, a 6-4 6-3 win over Fiona Ferro setting up a meeting with Australia’s Sam Stosur.