LONDON: Former world number one Caroline Wozniacki insisted Thursday she was a contender for the Wimbledon title, despite having never made it past the fourth round.
The Danish fifth seed, who finished 2010 and 2011 on top of the rankings despite never having won a Grand Slam, fancies her chances in the third round at the All England Club, where she faces Italian 31st seed Camila Giorgi.
Wozniacki has reached the fourth round four times in eight appearances at Wimbledon but has never gone beyond the last 16.
"I always feel like a contender. I'm five in the world, so of course I feel like a contender," the 24-year-old said.
"It's been a season where I've had some great matches and some great wins, and a season where I have had some tough draws, as well.
"I'm playing well, and that's the main thing. I'm positive about playing here, and the rest of the season moving forward.
"I won junior Wimbledon. I feel so comfortable on the grass. There's no reason why I shouldn't be able to make it past the fourth round."
Of the players ahead of her in the rankings and still in the tournament, all of them are former Wimbledon champions, with eight titles between them.
However, Wozniacki could not meet title-holder Petra Kvitova before the semi-finals and Serena Williams or Maria Sharapova before the final.
The Dane made it through to the third round at Wimbledon with a topsy-turvy 6-1, 7-6 (8/6) second round win over Czech world number 83 Denisa Allertova, setting up the Giorgi clash.
"Camila is a player that you don't really know what to expect. She's hitting every ball as hard as she can," said Wozniacki.
"For me, it's just about staying focused. I need to try to keep pressure on her.
"Once she can dictate, she's a dangerous player. She is going to take the ball very early. She serves well, goes for every shot."
Wozniacki also called for on-court coaching to be allowed in the Grand Slams, as it is on the regular women's tour. Wozniacki is coached by her father Piotr, who at ordinary tournaments is regularly seen during breaks giving her an earful of advice in his native Polish.
"When you look at other sports, in every other sport, coaching is allowed," said Wozniacki.
"It's only going to help to higher the standard of play. I don't see a reason why it shouldn't be allowed.
"Tradition and all that comes into play. What the crowd wants -- what everyone wants -- is to have the highest level possible out there."
But Wozniacki feels she can handle the pressure at Wimbledon without some on-court fatherly advice.
"I can think for myself. I don't feel like I really need it that badly. I know what I need to do out there; it's just about the execution," she said.
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