Good afternoon! Welcome to LIVE updates of one of the most high-profile matches on Day 4 of the 2021 French Open. Next up on Court Philippe-Chatrier we have 23-time Grand Slam champion Serena Williams up against Romanian world number 148 Mihaela Buzarnescu.

GAME, SET AND MATCH! – WILLIAMS 6-3 5-7 6-1 BUZARNESCU. It was far from straight-forward but Serena books her spot in round three, breaking to love to claim victory in two hours and three minutes.

WILLIAMS 6-3 5-7 5-1 BUZARNESCU. Serena moves to within a game of victory. Buzarnescu does everything she can to halt the charge. She makes deuce by winning the point of the match. It’s on Williams’ racket but she fails to put the game to bed on several occasions as some incredible defence denies her. The world number 174 then belies her ranking with a sumptuous drop shot. It leaves everyone grinning, but she then blows her own sitter into the net to miss out on a BP and allow SW to wriggle free.

WILLIAMS 6-3 5-7 4-1 BUZARNESCU. It’s just four break points from a possible 13 converted for SW now. She’s denied the prospect of a potential bagel as Buzarnescu digs in to make deuce before hanging tough to prolong this match a bit longer.

WILLIAMS 6-3 5-7 4-0 BUZARNESCU. The American backs up the double break with a hold to 15. Mihaela’s resistance is fading a little now as the three-time champion edges closer to round three.

BREAK! – WILLIAMS 6-3 5-7 3-0 BUZARNESCU. Breathing space! Serena unloads the power off the backhand and then the forehand from 30-30 to secure the double break. Buzarnescu’s movement and punchy shots have caused her real problems this evening, but she has a strangle-hold on this match now.

WILLIAMS 6-3 5-7 2-0 BUZARNESCU. Close call! Williams consolidates but she survives two break points from deuce. The world number 174 may well look back on that game.

BREAK! – WILLIAMS 6-3 5-7 1-0 BUZARNESCU. Williams earns another break point – and this time Buzarnescu helps her convert with an untimely double fault.

SET! – WILLIAMS 6-3 5-7 BUZARNESCU. Wow! Buzarnescu takes us into a decider! She gets a big piece of fortune when Serena can’t adjust to a flick off the net cord and hooks a backhand out to cough up set point. The three-time champion rallies hard but is undone by a stunning crosscourt backhand winner.

WILLIAMS 6-3 5-6 BUZARNESCU. How frustrating for Serena. She conjures two more break points but can’t get it done. A brilliant serve plus one pushes Buzarnescu to deuce and the American hooks a hurried backhand wide. It’s another get out of jail card played by the Romanian who is guaranteed the minimum of a TB.

WILLIAMS 6-3 5-5 BUZARNESCU. The Romanian doesn’t get the look-in she was hoping for. Serena stands firm, dropping just the one point, to stay in contention to finish the match in this set.

WILLIAMS 6-3 4-5 BUZARNESCU. Serena will be ruing some of those missed opportunities early in the set as Buzarnescu has really warmed to the task. She applies the scoreboard pressure with a game to 15, closing it out with a lovely crosscourt winner.

WILLIAMS 6-3 4-4 BUZARNESCU. Serena consolidates with a hold to 15. We are level once more!

BREAK! – WILLIAMS 6-3 3-4 BUZARNESCU. It’s that big scream again! Buzarnescu slaps a tight attempt into the net and Williams had the break back after the Romanian underdog had threatened to deny her once again by saving the first of two opportunities with a corking forehand up the line.

BREAK! – WILLIAMS 6-3 2-4 BUZARNESCU. That’s a huge surprise! Williams lets out a trademark scream after saving triple break point with a serve-overhead combo. Her level immediately dips though and when a fourth chance comes along, Buzarnescu gets her reward for fighting so hard in her service games.

WILLIAMS 6-3 2-3 BUZARNESCU. That’s another let off for the Romanian. Serena clocks up two more break points, but again isn’t ruthless enough. She wastes the second with an ill-conceived high bouncing drop shot and Mihaela gets out of dodge by showing her how it’s done with an absolute beauty to finish.

WILLIAMS 6-3 2-2 BUZARNESCU. There was a slight dip from Serena there – and another double fault – but Buzarnescu can’t make any sort of inroads. All square.

WILLIAMS 6-3 1-2 BUZARNESCU. Finally some respite on serve. Buzarnescu flashes through her own love hold. She’s come under the cosh in the last few games but Serena couldn’t do anything on the return there.

WILLIAMS 6-3 1-1 BUZARNESCU. No danger on the Serena serve. She polishes off another love hold with a swanky dropshot that Mihaela is a million miles away from getting.

WILLIAMS 6-3 0-1 BUZARNESCU. That’s gritty from the world number 174. It was looking bleak as two double faults handed Serena an immediate chance to break again, but she dug in with a forehand winner and crosscourt pass to force deuce before edging over the line to snare the early scoreboard advantage.