LONDON, June 27 (Reuters) - A fifth Wimbledon singles title proved beyond even the mighty powers of Serena Williams as the American was bundled out in the fourth round by Marion Bartoli on Manic Monday.
With all eight men’s and women’s last-16 matches slated on the schedule, unique in the grand slams, the All England Club was abuzz from the moments the gates swung open on a sweltering day in leafy south west London.
Those without Centre Court tickets dashed straight for a prime spot next to the giant screen on Henman Hill to cheer home favourite Murray to a comprehensive 7-6 6-3 6-2 defeat of unpredictable Frenchman Gasquet.
The recently married Prince William and the Duchess of Cambridge did have the best seats in the house and would have given their royal seal of approval to the world number four’s most impressive display this year.
Like the planes stacking up to land at nearby Heathrow Airport, seven grand slam champions were looking for clearance into the quarter-finals on day seven of the tournament.
Maria Sharapova was the first of that elite bunch to venture out as the mercury shot into the high 80s Fahrenheit on the cauldron-like Court Two.
After early problems against unorthodox Chinese 20th seed Pen Shari she prevailed 6-4 6-2 to reach the quarter-finals of the tournament that launched her career into orbit seven years ago for the first time since 2006.
Two players hoping to cash in on Serena’s defeat and claim a first grand slam title, Czech Petra Kvitova and Victoria Azarenka, also impressed.
Eighth seed Kvitova, a semi-finalist last year, thrashed Yanina Wickmayer of Belgium 6-0 6-2 and fourth seed Azarenka, whose wailing again drowned out the rumble of low flying jets, overwhelmed Russia’s Nadia Petrova 6-2 6-2 to seal a clash with Tamira Paszek.
FIRST WILDCARD
Germany’s Sabine Lisicki is still on course to become the first wildcard to win the women’s singles after a 7-6 6-1 defeat of Petra Cetkovska and will next face Bartoli.
With her fidgety dad and coach Walter watching on Court One, after Bartoli banished him during her third-round win, the 2007 runner-up produced a high-energy performance to end Serena’s hopes of a third consecutive title.
There was enough nervous tension on court to string a racket though 26-year-old Bartoli continually carved out chances but failed to take them.
Williams, the 13-times grand slam champion, was moved around relentlessly but still saved five set points before ceding the opener.
Bartoli, bouncing around on the baseline and neurotically practising her swings between points, broke serve to lead 6-5 in the second set as the 29-year-old Williams made a clumsy attempt at a backhand smash.
An ace brought up two match points in the next game. Scrapping like an alley-cat Williams saved those and then a third after a sensational rally in which she pounded away at her French opponent.
With close friend and soul diva Beyonce watching on, it seemed Williams would turn the match around in the tiebreak but Bartoli was having none of it.
She earned another match point at 6-5 which Williams saved with and ace but when she had her fifth chance on her own serve she held her nerve to send down an unplayable delivery.
“Beating Serena is a dream come true, she is one of the greatest champions of the open era,” Bartoli said.
“It was not easy mentally but I did it and I am very happy. She is very imposing. If you look at her it is difficult to handle the pressure so I was just trying to focus on my own game.”
Rafa Nadal will be hoping to avoid a similar fate to Serena later on Monday against Argentina’s Juan Martin del Potro while Roger Federer, bidding for a seventh Wimbledon crown, takes on Russian Mikhail Youzhny.
(Reporting by Martyn Herman)
The 29-year-old, bidding to defy sporting logic by retaining her title after returning just before the tournament from 11 months out, lost 6-3 7-6 to Bartoli but
Andy Murray crushed Richard Gasquet to keep alive hopes of a first British men’s singles champion for 75 years.
Australia’s Bernard Tomic became the youngest man to reach the quarter-finals since Boris Becker in 1986 as he followed up his thrashing of fifth seed Robin Soderling with an equally straightforward win over Belgium’s Xavier Malisse.With all eight men’s and women’s last-16 matches slated on the schedule, unique in the grand slams, the All England Club was abuzz from the moments the gates swung open on a sweltering day in leafy south west London.
Those without Centre Court tickets dashed straight for a prime spot next to the giant screen on Henman Hill to cheer home favourite Murray to a comprehensive 7-6 6-3 6-2 defeat of unpredictable Frenchman Gasquet.
The recently married Prince William and the Duchess of Cambridge did have the best seats in the house and would have given their royal seal of approval to the world number four’s most impressive display this year.
Like the planes stacking up to land at nearby Heathrow Airport, seven grand slam champions were looking for clearance into the quarter-finals on day seven of the tournament.
Maria Sharapova was the first of that elite bunch to venture out as the mercury shot into the high 80s Fahrenheit on the cauldron-like Court Two.
After early problems against unorthodox Chinese 20th seed Pen Shari she prevailed 6-4 6-2 to reach the quarter-finals of the tournament that launched her career into orbit seven years ago for the first time since 2006.
Two players hoping to cash in on Serena’s defeat and claim a first grand slam title, Czech Petra Kvitova and Victoria Azarenka, also impressed.
Eighth seed Kvitova, a semi-finalist last year, thrashed Yanina Wickmayer of Belgium 6-0 6-2 and fourth seed Azarenka, whose wailing again drowned out the rumble of low flying jets, overwhelmed Russia’s Nadia Petrova 6-2 6-2 to seal a clash with Tamira Paszek.
FIRST WILDCARD
Germany’s Sabine Lisicki is still on course to become the first wildcard to win the women’s singles after a 7-6 6-1 defeat of Petra Cetkovska and will next face Bartoli.
With her fidgety dad and coach Walter watching on Court One, after Bartoli banished him during her third-round win, the 2007 runner-up produced a high-energy performance to end Serena’s hopes of a third consecutive title.
There was enough nervous tension on court to string a racket though 26-year-old Bartoli continually carved out chances but failed to take them.
Williams, the 13-times grand slam champion, was moved around relentlessly but still saved five set points before ceding the opener.
Bartoli, bouncing around on the baseline and neurotically practising her swings between points, broke serve to lead 6-5 in the second set as the 29-year-old Williams made a clumsy attempt at a backhand smash.
An ace brought up two match points in the next game. Scrapping like an alley-cat Williams saved those and then a third after a sensational rally in which she pounded away at her French opponent.
With close friend and soul diva Beyonce watching on, it seemed Williams would turn the match around in the tiebreak but Bartoli was having none of it.
She earned another match point at 6-5 which Williams saved with and ace but when she had her fifth chance on her own serve she held her nerve to send down an unplayable delivery.
“Beating Serena is a dream come true, she is one of the greatest champions of the open era,” Bartoli said.
“It was not easy mentally but I did it and I am very happy. She is very imposing. If you look at her it is difficult to handle the pressure so I was just trying to focus on my own game.”
Rafa Nadal will be hoping to avoid a similar fate to Serena later on Monday against Argentina’s Juan Martin del Potro while Roger Federer, bidding for a seventh Wimbledon crown, takes on Russian Mikhail Youzhny.
(Reporting by Martyn Herman)
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