The result was a resounding 6-2, 6-2 victory to which, as the Danish woman readily conceded, she was not required to contribute too much.

From the beginning, the nervous Giorgi could hardly propel the ball over the net, dropping serve in the opening game after starting with successive double-faults and it came as something of a surprise when she pulled level at 2-2 by capturing the Wozniacki serve, only to promptly concede her own delivery as the former world No.1 embarked on a run of four straight games to pocket the first set after 42 minutes.

 

Any Italians in the crowd may have perked up a little at the sight of Giorgi winning the opening game of the second set, but the reprieve was brief. Off went Wozniacki again to sweep through six of the next seven games, this time in just 30 minutes, before she exited after blowing kisses, Sharapova fashion, to all parts of the arena.

Strangely, Wozniacki claimed afterwards: “You never really feel comfortable against her.” Perhaps because Giorgi had won two of their previous three meetings, including one at the US Open two years ago.

 

But she was on more believable grounds when adding: “She hits the ball as hard as she can, but thankfully it wasn’t really going in that much. I also kept serving well and I returned well, which was a big help.”

 

The further good news for Wozniacki is that her next opponent will not be the 10th-seeded Angelique Kerber of Germany but Spain’s Garbine Muguruza, a surprise winner in three sets.

So, for the fifth time at Wimbledon, Wozniacki is into the fourth round, with the cautionary statistic that she has never previously gone beyond that stage.

She confessed surprise. “There’s no reason why I shouldn’t have been able to make it past the fourth round, though I’ve had some tough fourth rounds here. I’ve won Eastbourne. I’ve won the juniors here. I feel very comfortable on the grass and I love playing here. So I’m going to try to do my best in the next round.”