Serena Williams was once again caught napping at the French Open on Thursday before she regained her focus to set up a third-round date with one of her biggest fans on the tour.
Williams squeezed past little-known Venezuelan Milagros Sequera 6-0, 7-6 and will next run into Dutch teenager Michaella Krajicek.
The younger sister of 1996 Wimbledon champion Richard Krajicek said she is excited about meeting Williams as she had idolised the American while growing up.
"That's awesome. That's so sweet," said Williams, seeking a second title here after her success in 2002.
"I know the feeling because I loved Monica Seles, so whenever I got a chance to play her, I was just still really excited. Winning against her was like the ultimate goal. Every time was just so cool.
"It's just kind of strange to be in the opposite position."
The Australian Open champion, however, will want Krajicek to be struck by stage fright after she produced yet another ragged performance on Thursday.
Williams had been dragged to three sets in her opening match on Sunday and a three-day break did little to restore her usual champion's aura.
The eighth seed stormed through the first set in 24 minutes but then started misfiring as her 69th ranked opponent streaked to a 3-0 lead in the second.
Williams, 25, found her footing in the nick of time to avoid another long-winded contest and sealed victory 7-3 in the tiebreak when Sequera slapped a forehand long.
"I pretty much went crazy. It was weird. I honestly didn't feel my game at all today," said Williams, whose match was postponed from Wednesday because of downpours over Roland Garros.
"Even when I was up 6-0, I didn't feel like I was playing my best tennis. I was kind of struggling out there to get the rhythm. Maybe because I had too many days off.
