An old foe will be plotting to end Serena Williams' French Open title defence in the fourth round.
The world number one battled past French number one Kristina Mladenovic 6-4 7-6 (12/10) in a rain-interrupted match on Saturday to set up a clash with 18th seed Elina Svitolina.
The Ukrainian has never beaten Williams in three previous meetings, but this will be her first match against the formidable American with former world number one Justine Henin in her corner.
Henin joined Svitolina's coaching team in February and will hope she can inspire her charge to the same kind of success she enjoyed against Williams at Roland Garros.
The pair met twice, with Henin winning on both occasions in 2003 and 2007, the latter one of three consecutive grand slam successes against Williams.
Asked what Henin's greatest strength as a coach was, Svitolina said: "I think her experience is, of course. She understands what I feel, and that's the main key. Because for some coaches who didn't play on such a high level, it's tough, I think.
"It's not like I have her in my team so I'm going to play exactly like her, because it's impossible. We are completely different people. So we try to find something in between, what suits me, what suits my game. W e are still learning a lot of things."
Svitolina made the quarter-finals in Paris 12 months ago before losing to Ana Ivanovic, but turned the tables this time, beating the former champion in round three 6-4 6-4.
It was her first win over Ivanovic in eight attempts, which she hopes can be a positive sign ahead of her clash with Williams.
The 21-year-old said: "We didn't really speak about (playing Williams) yet, but of course it's going to be a big challenge for me, like today, as well. First win against Ana, it's huge for me.
"I think mentally I need to stay strong, stay positive, and no more junior mentality and junior tennis."
Williams lost only five games in her opening two matches at Roland Garros, but was pushed to the limit by Mladenovic.
A storm in Paris delayed play for two hours and 40 minutes prior to the second-set tie-break, and Williams lost five of the first seven points on the resumption.
She then needed five match points, saving one set point, to clinch victory.
The 34-year-old was far from happy with her performance, saying: "I think she played well. I feel like I made a tremendous amount of errors. She forced me to go for it, and unfortunately, I wasn't hitting great today.
"I just made it a point to play my game (in the tie-break). Up until that point I had not been playing my game. I was playing really defensive. So I just wanted to be Serena out there."
Williams was joined in the last 16 by her sister Venus, who completed a miserable day for the home country by defeating Alize Cornet 7-6 (7/5) 1-6 6-0.
Venus, who turns 36 next month, was playing in the third round for the first time since 2010 and has not made the quarter-finals in a decade.
Eighth seed Timea Bacsinszky, who next plays Venus, reached the semi-finals last year and is on another good run, beating Pauline Parmentier 6-4 6-2.
The Swiss is a bubbly personality, but may not have won too much approval in the locker room with her comments afterwards about the lack of coverage of women's tennis compared to the men's game.
She said: "What I expect is not to be in the spotlight. To be in the spotlight, you have to deserve it.
"If you want people to talk more about yourself, play better. Be better. You can't expect anything else.
"It's been the case for years and years. So what's the point in fighting and struggling and saying, 'Okay, we shouldn't talk about women's tennis this way'. It's a fact. Either you accept it or not."
Source: PA
