Correction - Translation of @johasger interview with Piotr in Ekstra Bladet http://ekstrabladet.dk/sport/anden_sport/tennis/article2273704.ece : When Caroline Thursday afternoon started her first practice session at 5 PM with Petra Kvitova in Madrid, an expectant father and coach got ready to gather loose tennis balls up.

"She's playing much better now than she did last year at the same time," says Piotr Wozniacki, who only has training and practice sessions to build on.

But there's one concrete change: the Japanese Yonex racquet, which the Dane cursed last year especially during the clay season, has now been replaced with her old, French Babolat racquet.

"Yes, it's important for her self-confidence that she plays with with the racquet she had results with in the old days. But she's playing better in general on clay and understands the surface better than before," thinks Piotr.

Paradoxically, the injury to her left wrist, which forced her to withdraw from Stuttgart, has helped to hone an important tool in her tool box. Because Caroline had to take it easy with her two-handed backhand during practice, she's had to hit a lot of one-handed backhanded slices.

"The injury is better now, but she sliced the most in Monaco when we played practice matches with Bernard Tomic, Marta Domachowska (her hitting partner) and a few 18-year-old lads from the top of the junior rankings.

"It's very important for her to realise that she can use other backhand shots. Her slice is improving immensely, and Caroline is in fine shape both physically and tennis-wise. She's almost 100%," estimates Piotr Wozniacki.

His daughter has almost no points to defend during the clay season, so there is a great opportunity to better her 14th. place in the rankings.

"But we're taking it as it comes. She still has to be careful with her wrist at the start. And we hope for a sensible draw."

The draw is today at 2 PM

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