Struggling former world No.1 Caroline Wozniacki is on guard against an ambush from Jarmila Gajdosova when she faces her Australian hitting partner at the French Open on Thursday night.
After topping the year-end rankings in 2010 and 2011, Wozniacki will slip outside the top 10 with a second-round exit from Roland Garros and knows she must be on her game against the free-hitting Gajdosova.
Wozniacki and Gajdosova practised together upon their arrival in Paris, but the Dane already had first-hand experience of just how dangerous her friend can be.
Although Wozniacki leads their head-to-heads 5-0, Gajdosova stretched her to three tight sets last October in Tokyo.
“She’s definitely not an easy opponent, especially if she has her day,” Wozniacki said.
“She can play really well and then not so well. It’s important for me to stay focused.
“We’ve had some very difficult matches the last two matches. For me, it’s about getting as many balls back and not allowing her to dictate because then things can go fast.”
The reward for the victor will be a clash on Saturday against either Estonian Kaia Kanepi or Romanian Irina-Camelia Begu for a spot in the last 16.
Gajdosova’s countryman Bernard Tomic is hunting a place in the men’s third round on Thursday night when he meets Colombian Santiago Giraldo.
Tomic, the 25th seed, beat the South American in their only previous match-up two weeks ago in Rome.
“I feel confident playing against him and I believe I can win again,” Tomic said.
Tomic’s prize for winning would be a likely shot at fourth seed Andy Murray on Saturday.
“That’s another chance for me,” the 19-year-old said.
“I hope I win my next round to play Andy and to have a chance and have a crack.”
Samantha Stosur is already safely through to the third round after sweeping past American Irina Falconi 6-1 6-4 in just 63 minutes on Wednesday.
“I thought I played pretty well. It was a good match. I was happy with it,” Stosur said.
Australia’s 2010 runner-up plays Russian Nadia Petrova on Friday for a berth in the last 16.
