London: Barbora Zahlavova Strycova claimed another famous scalp at Wimbledon as the unseeded Czech moved into the quarter-finals with a 6-2, 7-5 victory against former world number one Caroline Wozniacki on Monday.
Zahlavova Strycova, the World No. 43, had enjoyed the best win of her career in the previous round when she defeated Chinese second seed Li Na and she added Danish 16th seed Wozniacki to her list of upsets, converting a sixth match point to move into the last eight at a Grand Slam for the first time at the 32nd attempt. The 28-year-old, who served a six-month ban for doping last year, will play compatriot Petra Kvitova for a place in the semifinals.
Sixth seed Kvitova, who won the Wimbledon title in 2011, routed Peng Shuai of China 6-3, 6-2 in just one hour on Court Two.
Three of the four quarter-finalists in the bottom half of the draw are Czech after 23rd seed Lucie Safarova ended the fairytale run of teenager Tereza Smitkova, the lowest ranked woman left in the tournament, with a 6-0, 6-2 victory.
Bouchard in quarters
Rising Canadian star Eugenie Bouchard booked her first appearance in the Wimbledon quarter-finals as the 13th seed defeated Alize Cornet 7-6 (7/5), 7-5.
The 20-year-old underlined her growing reputation by seeing off French 25th seed Cornet, who had caused one of the great Wimbledon upsets in the previous round when she defeated World No.1 Serena Williams.
Sabine Lisicki, last year’s Wimbledon beaten finalist, finally downed Ana Ivanovic on Monday to give herself a place in the last 16.
Scheduling shocks Stan
Meanwhile, Stan Wawrinka was stunned that he had to play his Wimbledon third round tie on Monday in a scheduling nightmare which will force him to play five matches in seven days to win the title.
The third-seeded Australian Open champion defeated Uzbekistan’s Denis Istomin 6-3, 6-3, 6-4 to reach the fourth round for the first time since 2009. But the match should have been played Saturday before it was cancelled due to the torrential rain which swept the All England Club.
Wawrinka will now play his fourth round on Tuesday against 19th seed Feliciano Lopez of Spain who also waited until Monday to see off John Isner, the ninth seeded American, 6-7 (8/10), 7-6 (8/6), 7-6 (7/3), 7-5.
In the remaining third round match to be completed, Japan’s Kei Nishikori saw off Italian lucky loser Simone Bolelli 3-6, 6-3, 4-6, 7-6 (7/4), 6-4 after the pair had finished 3-3 in the decider on Saturday.
In his maiden last-16 appearance, Nishikori will face Canadian eighth seed Milos Raonic on Tuesday.
Results: Men: Fourth round: Marin Cilic (CRO x26) bt Jeremy Chardy (FRA) 7-6 (10/8), 6-4, 6-4 Third round: Stanislas Wawrinka (SUI x5) bt Denis Istomin (UZB) 6-3, 6-3, 6-4; Feliciano Lopez (ESP x19) bt John Isner (USA x9) 6-7 (8/10), 7-6 (8/6), 7-6 (7/3), 7-5; Kei Nishikori (JPN x10) bt Simone Bolelli (ITA) 3-6, 6-3, 4-6, 7-6 (7/4), 6-4.
Women: Fourth round: Eugenie Bouchard (CAN x13) bt Alize Cornet (FRA x25) 7-6 (7/5), 7-5; Lucie Safarova (CZE x23) bt Tereza Smitková (CZE) 6-0, 6-2; Petra Kvitova (CZE x6) bt Peng Shuai (CHN) 6-3, 6-2; Barbora Záhlavová Strýcová (CZE) bt Caroline Wozniacki (DEN x16) 6-2, 7-5. Third round: Sabine Lisicki (GER x19) bt Ana Ivanovic (SRB x11) 6-4, 3-6, 6-1; Yaroslava Shvedova (KAZ) bt Madison Keys (USA) 7-6 (9/7), 6-6 - rtd.
