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Three-time Roland Garros champion Williams, who
has been stuck on 23 major titles since 2017, one behind
Margaret Court's all-time record, went through the gears in the
opening set before letting her guard down.
The 39-year-old, who is seeded seventh in Paris but has not been
past the fourth round here since reaching the final in 2016,
fell 4-2 behind in the second set as Buzarnescu broke for the
first time.
But the American was back to her dominant self as she stole her
opponent's serve in the next game and set up two break points in
the 11th game.
Buzarnescu kept her composure to stave them off and level for
5-5 before sealing the second set on Williams's serve.
"I had some really good chances in the second set to win that if
I would have won just one point here or there, like four or five
times it would have been a different second set," Williams told
reporters after the match.
"Going into the third I just had to zero in on those one
important points. If I could just take those, it would be an
easier time for me."
Williams was 4-0 up after breaking twice in the decider but the
scoreline did not reflect the fight the Romanian put up to stay
in the contest.
Williams's experience, however, prevailed in the key moments as
she set up a meeting with fellow American Danielle Collins.
Williams has come agonisingly close to matching Court's record
since winning the 2017 Australian Open.
She has fallen in four Grand Slam finals and earlier this year
lost in the semi-finals at the Australian Open.
Following that she underwent oral surgery and played only three
Tour-level matches heading into the French Open, winning one.
(Reporting by Julien Pretot; Editing by Toby Davis)
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