The Czech is wary of Erakovic having won a difficult match against her last year. "As I saw the draw it came to my mind and I know how she can be dangerous. She hits a lot of slice, drop shots and has a great forehand and serve, so she is a tricky first round opponent." Kvitova said.
Erakovic is hoping to rejuvenate a season that is threatening to fall away. Only four times in 11 tournaments has the Kiwi got past the first round this year, and only once, in Pattaya in February has she gone deep. (Semi-finals)
But she insists the poor run of results hasn't dented her confidence.
"If you look at the last three or four months all the losses have been really tight, and it's just a little bit of leeway here or there. I know I can play really well and I am going to keep working really hard to do my best to get there." Erakovic said.
Her ranking has slipped from 76 at the start of the year to 82. In fact Erakovic has struggled results wise on tour since late 2013. She ended that season inside the top 50 at a career best 48. But the biggest issue since has been a lack of consistency. The next six weeks shape as vital for the 27 year old career wise. With few points to defend, good results will have her back up around the top 50, but a bad run and she will slip outside the top 100 and have to playing qualifying at Grand Slams.
Erakovic though maintains she can reach the top echelon of the game.
"It's something that, I'm close but not quite there, I think I definitely have the goods to be a top 20 player and that's the biggest goal for me."
Erakovic's Spanish coach Eduardo Nicolas has no doubt Erakovic should be ranked much higher than she is and believes she will rise into the top 50 again before long.
"Marina needs only to believe in herself because she is playing at a high level and has been a bit unlucky this year losing some close matches."
He feels her game has improved in the past few months and the benefits will come.
"We have changed her backhand and she has better balance now. We have also changed the position of her forehand, so she does not have as much of an open stance. It was very difficult to hit the forehand down the line and to approach the net but its better now. Tactically she is using all her tools better and she is trying to be more of a complete player."
One of the criticisms of Erakovic's game has been a perceived lack of court speed and footwork and Nicolas acknowledges she will never be one of the quickest players.
"Marina needs to dictate play with her aggression, she is not like a Sara Errani and is not going to chase down everything."
But Nicolas feels Erakovic has a decent chance against the world number four Kvitova.
"It is possible for Marina to dictate against her. The court here is really slow compared to Madrid which won't suit Petra. Marina can have her chances and I would prefer she plays against Kvitova in the first round than later in the tournament."
Matt Brown travelled to Paris thanks to Emirates Airline.
