Li Na crashes out of Wimbledon
China’s second seed knocked out in the third round but former world number one Caroline Wozniacki safely though.
Chinese second-seed Li Na suffered a shock third round exit at Wimbledon after going down 7-6, 7-6 to the Czech Republic’s Barbora Zahlavova Strycova.
The Australian Open champion has never felt comfortable on the slick lawns of the All England Club, with her best showing being three quarter-final appearances in eight visits. She is the highest seed to fall so far at this year’s championships.
Elsewhere, Caroline Wozniacki kept her composure to end the spirited run of 16-year-old Croat Ana Konjuh 6-3 6-0 in the third round.
Wimbledon debutante Konjuh, the youngest player to reach the last-32 at the All England Club since 2005, forced Wozniacki on the backfoot for much of the first set, combining punchy hitting with deft touches at the net.
The world number 189 hit 19 winners compared to the Dane’s nine, but Wozniacki broke Konjuh’s spirit by winning nine games on the trot from 3-3 to seal a place in the second week of the grasscourt major for the fourth time.
Meanwhile, French Open finalist Simona Halep also progressed with a a 6-3, 4-6, 6-4 win over Lesia Tsurenko of Ukraine.
Other results (selected):
Ekaterina Makarova (Russia) beat Caroline Garcia (France) 7-5, 6-3
Belinda Bencic (Switzerland) beat Victoria Duval (US) 6-4, 7-5