Czechs march on as Wozniacki bows out
Originally published on 30/06/14
Bouchard won the final four games of the match to secure a 7-6(5) 7-5 victory over Serena Wiliams’ conqueror Alize Cornet under the Centre Court roof.
“I think we played some good tennis today,” said the 20-year-old Canadian, who awaits the winner of the delayed fourth-found match between Maria Sharapova and Angelique Kerber. “You know, we had some tough points. She has good wheels. So I had to really try and finish off the point. I think it made for some really tough, physical points. So that's definitely the most physical match I've played I think this tournament. But I'm proud that I really, really fought till the end. She's a good fighter, too. We were really just battling.”
Zahlavova Strycova backed up her shock win over Li Na to reach the quarter-finals of a Grand Slam for the first time, converting her sixth match point to seal a 6-2 7-5 victory on Court 12.
“I put a lot of work into it, and I knew always that I can play good on grass,” said Zahlavova Strycova. “Now the results show [that] and I am glad about it.”
“I didn't serve as well as I have earlier on in the tournament,” admitted Wozniacki. “You know, that makes it harder on grass. Even when I had some opportunities I made some stupid mistakes or didn't play the balls properly.”
Next up for Zahlavova Strycova is fellow Czech Petra Kvitova after the 2011 champion defeated Peng Shuai 6-3 6-2. The No.6 seed hit 25 winners and just seven unforced errors as she sealed her place in the quarter-finals for a fifth successive year. There will be three Czech players in the last eight after Lucie Safarova defeated compatriot Tereza Smitkova 6-0 6-2 in 48 minutes. It is the first time in the Open era that three Czech women have reached the last eight of a Grand Slam.
“I think [Safarova and I] prefer playing an aggressive game,” said Kvitova of the Czech success this year. “Barbora is just very good with the tactics and she has great touch and great volleys, slice, and everything like that. So I think it's just the grass suits us definitely.
There was another upset on Monday as No.4 seed Agnieszka Radwanska was beaten 6-3 6-0 by Ekaterina Makarova, leaving world No.3 Simona Halep as the only member of the top four seeds remaining. Radwanska, a 2012 finalist, hit just 10 winners and an uncharacteristic 14 unforced errors as she was well beaten by the Russian No.22 seed, who will face Safarova next.
In the day’s third-round action, resuming after play was disrupted by rain on Saturday, Sabine Lisicki continued her impressive record at Wimbledon as she defeated Ana Ivanovic 6-4 3-6 6-1. After another rain delay on Monday, last year’s runner-up sealed victory with her seventh ace of the match.
Meanwhile there was heartbreak for Eastbourne champion Madison Keys, who was forced to concede her third-round match against Yaroslava Shvedova. Keys appeared to be in some discomfort as she limped off as play was suspended with the American leading by a set at the start of the second-set tiebreak. And after a day’s rest she was forced to withdraw, revealing she had strained an adductor muscle, handing Shvedova a fourth-round meeting with Lisicki.
“I came in this morning and I had lots of tape on and I tried, but I couldn't get through warm up,” said Keys. “I have a muscle strain in my adductor. It's not terrible, not a really long recovery time. But they were warning me it could get worse, make recovery time even longer.”
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