Barty advances to round 2 at the F.T.O…but it was a hard slog.

Ash Barty’s plans of a second-week French Tennis Open push remain intact, after the world No.8 absorbed a rugged challenge from Jess Pegula.

But a routine 6-3, 6-3 scoreline…posted in exactly an hour…betrayed none of the Ipswich product’s difficulties, dealing with her American opponent.

She won the first four games, lost the next three, won the next four and lost the next three…as she was dragged to the precipice, before closing out the match by pocketing the last four games.

Barty will next face either Australian Open semi-finalist Danielle Collins or German, Tatjana Maria.

(Image courtesy of www.heraldsun.com.au)