British number one Boulter spoke about needing to be more aggressive on the unfamiliar clay courts after her defeat by Parry.

She used her forehand to great effect against Burel on Saturday but perhaps more impressive was the mental strength she showed to come through the tight moments.

She won a near 20-minute game at 3-3 in the first set, saving five break points and surviving nine deuces in front of a raucous French crowd.

Although she was broken to love in her next service game, it did not feel as desperate as it did against Parry - and the Englishwoman proved it, breaking a tentative Burel as she served for the set.

Boulter's net play also improved as the match progressed. She brought up two set points with an extraordinary reactive lob before closing out the first set with her trademark forehand.

She kept the intensity up, breaking Burel at the first opportunity with a deft drop shot, and Boulter kept both her rhythm and her radar in check to sweep to victory.

"This is my second match on the tour on a clay court so I'm still fresh and learning," Boulter said.

"We have two rubbers and we've got absolutely nothing to lose again."