Wozniacki insists she is ‘not a victim’ after third-round win at Wimbledon

Djokovic wins in straight sets despite injury scare while Murray makes short work of Batista Agut

Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark reacts during her women's singles match against Naomi Broady of Britain at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London on June 25, 2014. Suzanne Plunkett / Reuters

Caroline Wozniacki credited “being in a good place in my head” for her impressive form at Wimbledon as she dismissed claims she was still mentally suffering following the end of her relationship with golfer Rory McIlroy.

The former world No 1 hit out at being branded a victim after making it to the fourth round at Wimbledon, only the third time she has reached the last 16 of a grand slam tournament since 2011.

She defeated Croatian 16-year-old Ana Konjuh 6-3, 6-0 on Friday.

McIlroy ended things with Wozniacki shortly after invitations for their wedding had reportedly been sent out, and the 16th seed said she was coping fine following the break-up.

“Everyone here wants to make me a victim. I’m not a victim. I’m just playing tennis. I’m going about my life. I’m playing well,” the Dane said. “I felt a lot of support from everybody and the crowd. The crowd has been amazing.”

Wozniacki denied that her tennis had dropped off during her time with McIlroy and was improving again now they are no longer together.

“This year I’m feeling good. My game is in a good state,” she said.

“My private life has nothing to do with my tennis. When I’m out there, it’s a yellow ball, white lines. It’s about playing it over the net and inside the lines more than your opponent.

“To play good tennis, your head has to be there. I’m in a good place in my head right now mentally.

“I think that shows on court as well. I’m just so focused on what I have to do out there and what my purpose is when I go on court.”

Of her form as she targets a first grand slam championship, she said: “I’m really pleased. I’m happy. My game is in great shape. I love playing at Wimbledon, so the more matches I can get the happier I am. It’s exciting.”

Wozniacki will play unseeded Barbora Zahlavova Strycova for a place in the last eight on Monday after the Czech player surprised second seed Li Na 7-6, 7-6.

The match ended in bizarre circumstances as Li, facing match point, successfully challenged a forehand that had been called long, leading to the point being ordered to be replayed.

But Zahlavova Strycova, the world No 43, was able to quickly celebrate victory for real when Li served up a seventh double fault on the replayed point.

“I am very happy. I played a great match and I believed I could do it. It’s my biggest win,” Zahlavova Strycova said.

She said she did not hear Li challenge on match point against the background of noise in Court One.

“I thought it was over. I had to get my concentration back but happily, for me, she served a double fault,” she said.

Petra Kvitova, the 2011 champion, survived a scare before seeing off the challenge of the five-time champion Venus Williams. Kvitova, the sixth seed, lost the opening set to the American 7-5, but she fought back to take the next two 7-6, 7-5 to secure her spot against Peng Shuai in the last 16.

Djokovic shaken but unhurt after tumble

Top seed Novak Djokovic survived a shoulder injury scare to reach the Wimbledon fourth round on Friday with a 6-4, 6-2, 6-4 triumph over France's Gilles Simon.

The 2011 champion needed a medical timeout to receive treatment after hurting his left shoulder in a spectacular diving attempt to reach a Simon drive in the sixth game of the third set on Centre Court.

But the Serb overcame the scare to set up a clash with French 14th seed Jo-Wilfried Tsonga for a place in the quarter-finals of the competition on Monday.

Djokovic admitted he was shaken by his fall and finished the match in some discomfort. The world No 2 said: “Yes, it was a sharp pain when I fell. It was an awkward fall. I was just hoping nothing was going on bad with the joint.

“I just came from the doctor’s office, did an ultrasound. It’s all looking good. They said the joint is not damaged, which is the most important thing.”

Earlier, Grigor Dimitrov, the No 11 seed, twice had to come from a set down before he reached the fourth round.

The Bulgarian got the better of Alexandr Dolgopolov 6-7, 6-4, 2-6, 6-4, 6-1 in a match that lasted almost three hours.

Fabio Fognini hit out at Wimbledon officials following his third-round exit to Kevin Anderson 4-6, 6-4, 2-6, 6-2, 6-1.

The Italian 16th seed was fined US$27,500 (Dh101,000) for damaging the grass court and verbally abusing an official during his second-round match on Wednesday against Alex Kuznetsov. “If we talking about tennis, I say that I really enjoy, but the other stuff I say no,” he said. “The only things I don’t like is Wimbledon’s rules.”

Defending champion Andy Murray steamed into the last 16 of Wimbledon with another show of force on Friday, this time outclassing Spaniard Roberto Bautista Agut 6-2, 6-3, 6-2.

The home favourite, attempting to defend the title he won last year to become the first Briton to win the men’s singles for 77 years, turned the late evening Centre Court duel into a one-sided romp.

Murray appeared to be toying with 27th seed Bautista Agut for most of the match and could even afford a third-set lapse when he dropped serve at 4-0.

The third seed has won his past 16 matches at the All England Club, beginning with his gold-medal run at the 2012 Olympics, and so far at this year’s championships he has conceded a mere 19 games in three matches.

Follow us on Twitter at @SprtNationalUAE