The 19-year-old Dane has not dropped a set in the tournament but she faced a tough battle at times in her 7-5 6-4 triumph on Court Two.

Wozniacki, who also reached the same stage of the grass slam last year before bowing out, was accurate with her first serve against an opponent who pulled off 29 winners to ensure a close contest.

Last year's US Open finalist won the junior title at SW19 in 2006 and has improved one step at a time since her first-round exit on her debut in the ladies' singles the following year.

Wozniacki will face another teenager in the next round, the unseeded Petra Kvitova, after the Czech knocked out 14th seed Victoria Azarenka with a 7-5 6-0 win.

Tentative

But - with a possible last-four meeting with Serena Williams to come - she may have to improve her net game to reach another grand slam final after looking tentative on her few approaches on Saturday afternoon.

Pavlyuchenkova, a year younger than her opponent at 18, lost her first service game with a double fault but soon improved.

The Russian, who has never been beyond the third round of a grand slam in 11 attempts, set up break points in two games during the first set with brilliant backhands.

Wozniacki saved the first with a powerful serve but over-hit a rally shot as she failed to serve out the set.

However, two careless shots from Pavlyuchenkova ensured set-point and she lost it with another wide effort.

The 29th seed broke in the first game of the second set and Wozniacki appeared to be struggling as she faced a break-point in her next service game.

But she saved it and immediately broke herself before a run of errors cost Pavlyuchenkova the match.

Casualty

Flavia Pennetta joined Azarenka as another big-name casualty in Wozniacki's quarter after the 10th seeded Italian exited the tournament via a limp 6-2 6-3 defeat to unseeded Czech Klara Zakopalova.

Zakopalova will take on Estonian Kaia Kanepi who also sent 31st Alexandra Dulgheru packing with a 6-1 6-2 success.

Material: skysports.com