Good afternoon and welcome to Eurosport's LIVE coverage of the women's singles first round match between Ash Barty and Bernarda Pera at Roland Garros. We'll bring you all the action as it happens from the red clay of Court Philippe-Chatrier. Barty is the top seed in the women's singles and enters this year's French Open in good form. After a couple weeks' rest, she should be fresh and ready to go. Pera, on the other hand, has struggled for form in 2021, but did knock out Angelique Kerber in the first round of the Australian Open in February.
A. Barty vs B. Pera | Roland-Garros
Women's Singles | Round 1 | 01.06.2021 | Court Philippe-Chatrier
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Completed
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A. Barty (1)
6
3
6
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B. Pera
4
6
2
Live
Live Updates
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Updated 01/06/2021 at 13:54 GMT
- All
- Highlights
14:53
BARTY 6-4, 3-6, 6-2 PERA
Game, set, match! A peculiar performance from Barty, but the number one seed is into the second round in three sets! Obviously the Australian is struggling from some sort of physical issue, but she really had to fight to get through that match.
14:48
BARTY 5-2 PERA* (6-4, 3-6)
Barty consolidates the break and all-of-sudden the world number one is just one game away from a place in the second round! Pera has allowed her level to dip at the wrong time!
14:45
*BARTY 4-2 PERA (6-4, 3-6)
Barty is gifted a game from Pera! The American looked tense at 30-30, went for broke on a shot that wasn't really on and then landed a backhand into the net on break point. Ouch!
14:40
BARTY 3-2 PERA* (6-4, 3-6)
Well, that was much better from Barty as she comfortably holds serve to edge ahead once again in this third set. It feels like we're all waiting for this decider to come to a head.
14:37
*BARTY 2-2 PERA (6-4, 3-6)
Pera is making the most of the fact that Barty's movement is hindered at the moment with some excellent angles from the back of the court. The American really fancies herself here.
14:35
14:33
BARTY 2-1 PERA* (6-4, 3-6)
Barty is still a long way off her usual level, but she is at least keeping the scoreboard ticking over in this deciding set. It certainly feels like the number one seed is there for the taking, though.
14:28
*BARTY 1-1 PERA (6-4, 3-6)
Good serving from Pera and she gets on the board at the start of the third set. The next few games will be key to determining just where Barty is with her game at the moment.
14:25
BARTY 1-0 PERA* (6-4, 3-6)
An important hold of serve for Barty at the start of the third set after the medical timeout. That delay didn't help Pera. There was a drop-off from the American there as she made a couple unforced errors.
14:17
TRAINER IS OUT!
This could explain a lot. Barty has asked for the trainer and it looks like she is stretching out her back. Is that the reason for this peculiar and very passive performance from the number one seed?
14:14
BARTY 3-6 (6-4) PERA!
Second set, Pera! Barty had a break point there after a couple loose points by Pera, but the American steadies herself and holds to clinch the second set 6-3! Barty has a match on her hands here!
14:10
BARTY 3-5 PERA* (6-4)
Barty holds from a set point down to at least apply some pressure on Pera who will now serve for the second set. Has that set point jolted the number one seed back into life again?
14:05
*BARTY 2-5 PERA (6-4)
Pera is in control of this match at the moment as she moves within one game of taking the second set. She is so comfortable from the back of the court right now. Barty is playing it far too safe. Too passive from the number one seed.
13:59
BARTY 2-4 PERA* (6-4)
A much-needed hold of serve by Barty that keeps her within just one break of Pera. Her serve is the thing keeping her competitive in this second set. Still playing well within herself.
13:56
*BARTY 1-4 PERA (6-4)
A hold to love for Pera. The American has found an exceptionally high level in this second set. She is the one dictating all the points on her serve. Barty just can't get going right now.
13:53
BARTY 1-3 PERA* (6-4)
On the board in this second set. Barty found some much better serving in that game and that was ultimately the difference. Big game coming up for Pera. A hour for 4-1 would make this fightback real.
13:49
*BARTY 0-3 PERA (6-4)
Pera extends her lead at the start of this second set. The key moment in that game came at 30-30 when Barty landed a makeable backhand down the line into the middle of the net. Strange performance.
13:46
BARTY 0-2 PERA* (6-4)
It definitely feels like there has been a swing in momentum in this match. Pera is stepping in off the baseline to attack Barty and is doing a very good job of reading the number one seed.
13:43
*BARTY 0-1 PERA (6-4)
Barty brought up a break point at 30-40, but Pera gets herself out of trouble with a couple of lovely aces out wide. It feels like the American has a grip of this match at the moment.
13:36
BARTY 6-4 PERA
First set, Barty! Bit of a strange match so far. Even in that game, Barty had three set points at 40-0, then seemed to lose her focus a little bit. Both the number one seed and Pera's levels have risen and dipped.