Samantha Stosur may still hit a tennis ball “like a man” but Dominika Cibulkova now plays and thinks like a grand slam finalist.
Slovakian Cibulkova famously compared the Australian’s awesome service and top-spin capabilities to those of a male at the French Open two years ago.
“She played unbelievably … She played like a man and it’s really hard to play against a man,” Cibulkova said, in a complimentary manner, after her 6-4 6-1 quarter-final loss in 2012.
The pair meet again at Roland Garros on Friday in a third-round encounter and Stosur’s power has again been causing her opponents headaches on the red clay.
Cibulkova has not beaten Stosur in four attempts but the Australian Open runner-up feels, this time, things can be different.
And 19th seed Stosur admits she has to expect a backlash from the ever-improving world No.10.
“I know when I’ve never beaten somebody you certainly go out there wanting to win,” Stosur said after her 6-1 6-3 second-round win over Austrian Yvonne Meusburger.
“If you have lost four matches, maybe it’s time to try something different.
“So I will certainly have to be aware of what she’s going to come out and try and do and really be smart at the start.”
As well as now being a top 10 player, 25-year-old Cibulkova heads into the pair’s latest duel firmly established on the grand slam stage after being runner-up to Li Na at this year’s Australian Open.
“I’m feeling it’s a little bit of a different story this year,” Cibulkova said after a 6-3 6-4 second-round win over Austrian Tamira Paszek.
“I’m feeling confident, feeling much better.
“She’s also a human, so I know what I have to do better against her.
“After getting into the top 10 this year and having a great result I’m feeling that if I’m playing my best tennis, I can beat anybody.
“She’s a tough opponent for me but I think one day I feel like I have to beat her.”
Despite Cibulkova’s undoubted improvement, Stosur is buoyed by the fact the most recent victory against the Slovakian came only earlier this month on clay.
Stosur trailed 4-0 in the first set at the Madrid Masters before blowing Cibulkova away 6-4 6-0 and she acknowledged it gave her a mental edge.
“I’ll certainly know that I was able to do that,” Stosur said.
The winner of Friday’s match could face 2012 champion Maria Sharapova in the fourth round but the women’s draw has been blown wide open by the shock exits of the top two seeds Serena Williams and Li Na.
Reigning champion Williams was a potential quarter-final opponent for Stosur but the Australian is focusing on the task at hand as she tries to reach the fourth round of a major tournament for the first time since 2012.
“I don’t think it really affects me just yet,” Stosur said of the draw.