Ashleigh Barty ready to play through the pain barrier at French Open

Ashleigh Barty admitted she is struggling with a left hip problem after battling into the second round of the French Open.

The world number one is back at Roland Garros for the first time since winning the title in 2019 and has been in excellent form this season, collecting three titles and cementing her place at the top of the rankings.

She withdrew from her last tournament in Rome because of concerns over an arm problem but took to the court against American Bernarda Pera with strapping at the top of her left thigh.

Barty took a medical time-out to have treatment after Pera won the second set but withstood pressure early on in the deciding set before coming through 6-4 3-6 6-2.

The 25-year-old said: “It’s going to be a little bit tough this week. I think over the weekend we had a bit of a flare-up through my left hip, which obviously just needed a bit of help today, needed some assistance to try and release it off as best I could.

“I’m not going to hide behind the fact I’m not quite 100 per cent but I can guarantee that I will go out there with the right attitude every day and be really accepting of that and give it a crack no matter what.

“We’re confident in that we can get my body to a point where I’m able to compete. We’re here, we’re fighting, we’re in with a chance, and that’s all we can do.”

Eleventh seed Petra Kvitova has been forced to withdraw from the tournament after hurting her ankle.

The Czech, who reached the semi-finals last year, saved a match point against Greet Minnen in her first-round match but then suffered a fall during her media duties.

Kvitova wrote on Twitter: “It is with great disappointment that I announce my withdrawal from Roland Garros. During my post-match press requirements on Sunday, I fell and hurt my ankle.

“Unfortunately, after an MRI and much discussion with my team, I have made the tough decision that it would be unwise to play on it.

“It’s incredibly bad luck, but I will stay strong and do my best to recover in time for the grass-court season.”

The two-time Wimbledon champion’s next tournament is scheduled to be the bett1open in Berlin beginning on June 14.

Venus Williams, playing in the French Open for a 24th time, suffered a fourth consecutive first-round loss, going down 6-3 6-1 to Ekaterina Alexandrova two weeks shy of her 41st birthday.

Williams’ doubles partner Coco Gauff, who has been excellent on the clay this season and is seeded at a slam for the first time, saved multiple set points in an epic first-set tie-break against Aleksandra Krunic on her way to a 7-6 (11) 6-4 victory.

Fifth seed Elina Svitolina had to fight from a break down in the second set against 17-year-old French wild card Oceane Babel before winning 6-2 7-5, while there were also victories for Karolina Pliskova, Jennifer Brady, Maria Sakkari and Ons Jabeur.