Back to the Tennis Newsfeed

Wimbledon 2021: Ashleigh Barty, Venus Williams, Karolina Pliskova win on second day

World number one Ashleigh Barty held off a spirited Carla Suarez Navarro to reach the second round at Wimbledon.

Australia's Barty, returning from a thigh injury, fought back from a rocky second set to win 6-1 6-7 (1-7) 6-1.

Spain's Suarez Navarro, playing in her second match since recovering from cancer, was given a standing ovation by the Centre Court crowd as she departed.

Five-time champion Venus Williams earlier beat Mihaela Buzarnescu on her 90th Grand Slam appearance.

Top seed Barty served for the match at 5-4 in the second set but Suarez Navarro, 32, found extra energy, playing a perfect tie-break to force a decider.