PARIS—Although Caroline Wozniacki’s bandaged left thigh doesn’t worry her, her poor display on center court at the French Open maybe should.
The top-seeded Dane scrapped into the third round at Roland Garros on Wednesday, needing almost two hours to defeat Aleksandra Wozniak of Canada 6-2, 7-6 (6).
Wozniacki got off to a good start but then showed her limitations on clay. She was forced to save three consecutive set points in the tiebreaker but finally prevailed when her 162th-ranked opponent sent a forehand volley in the net on her first match point.
“It was a tough match. I started off really well, and everything was going the way I wanted it to. Second set she played better. I started to play a little bit worse,” the top-ranked Wozniacki said. “Thankfully I finished it in two sets. It could easily have been three.”
Wozniacki, who was involved in a brief argument with the chair umpire in the second set, again played with a bandage on her left thigh and never looked comfortable on court, making 24 unforced errors.
She had her left leg treated during her victory in the final of a clay-court tournament in Brussels last weekend but said she is not hampered by any serious injury.
“It’s preventative,” Wozniacki said about the bandage. “I felt it a little bit last week and I didn’t want to make it worse, so I just do it for protection, because, I mean, there is no reason to make it worse. I mean, it’s not bothering me while I’m playing or anything, so it’s OK.”
Wozniacki is bidding for her first Grand Slam title, but when asked about how she would rate her chances at the French Open, she dodged the question.
“Well, I just take one match at a time. We have to see how it’s going to happen,” she said. “You know, I think I’ve done great results on clay so far this year. I’m feeling comfortable and confident on the clay. We will just see. Next match will be a tough one. Hopefully I can pull through.”
Wozniacki, who next plays 28th-seeded Daniela Hantuchova, conceded that clay is the most challenging surface for her. At the French Open, her best result is reaching the quarterfinals last year after losing twice in the third round in 2008 and 2009.
“I’m more comfortable on hard courts, but at the same time I think I play well on clay,” she said. “And I’ve showed that with the results I’ve done on clay so far this season.”
Wozniacki won two clay-court tournaments this season in Charleston, South Carolina, and Brussels, but also lost in the third round in Madrid.
Despite Wozniacki’s poor showing, Wozniak said the Dane has to be rated among the tournament favorites.
“It’s so open. Anybody has chances,” the Canadian said. “She makes less errors than she used to make. Definitely you’ve got to work the point to beat her and get one point. I think she’s very consistent. She got to her spot, world No. 1, because of her good overall game.”