World No.43 Barbora Zahlavova Strycova scored her first Top 10 victory, battling through two tiebreaks to beat second seed Li Na in the third round of Wimbledon 7-6(5) 7-6(5). This grasscourt season has been stunning for the Czech, who reached the final of Birmingham and then, after falling in the first round of ‘s-Hertogenbosch, recorded impressive victories over Alla Kudryavtseva, Elena Vesnina and now Li Na at Wimbledon.
The 28-year-old is in the fourth round of a Grand Slam for the first time, where she will face seed No.16 Caroline Wozniacki. With her tennis shining bright, Wozniacki won nine straight games to close out Ana Konjuh 6-3 6-0 and reach the round of 16 at Wimbledon for the first time since 2011.
Bizarre stats: Zahlavova Strycova used to be 0-28 against Top 13 players, having won one of 57 sets – imagine, that sole set she won against Li at 2011 Roland Garros!
Did you know? Barbora Strycova added the last name Zahlavova when she married Jakub Zahlava, now already seven and a half years ago. Jakub used to be her coach, but now her coach is Jerome Adamec. (photo: Jimmie48)
Woz’s tennis is looking great right now and she has a big chance of reaching her 1st Wimbledon quarter-final against Zahlavova Strycova. Her game is just much more complete than I’ve seen in quite a while. More of this, please.
its good to come new young players in action…… in every sports, there is a monopoly of 3-4 big teams or players…. which is not good for the game. so new generation should come with aggression and try to make game perfectly competitive so it didn’t get bored…. similarly in men.
@Cornell Moore: What a lovely, and generally true, statement – but: do you actually know who the hell Barbora Záhlavová-Strýcová is – this “new young player in action”? Let me do an easy guess: you do not – you don’t even have a clue. So, why bother at all – that is the question.
For me, that Li Na-BZS match was a sad one, because it was Li Na’s last match. A match between the player with the least syllables in her name against the one with the most syllables in her name. A match that Li Na, even though she didn’t play well, could have won. Li did beat BZS at the 2011 French Open on her way to the championship there. I will miss Li Na!
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