WIMBLEDON, England - Tinalo ni defending champion Serena Williams si Maria Sharapova, 7-6 (9), 6-4, upang umabante sa Wimbledon quarterfinals at makaganti sa kanyang kabiguan sa nasabing Russian noong 2004 final.
Binigo naman ni Kim Clijsters si Justine Henin, 2-6, 6-2, 6-3, sa isang all-Belgian duel sa pagitan ng mga dating No. 1-ranked players na nagbalik matapos magretiro.
Pumasok rin sa quarterfinals sina defending champion Roger Federer, third-seeded Novak Djokovic, No. 4 Andy Murray at five-time women’s winner Venus Williams.
Humataw si Serena Williams ng 19 aces para sa kanyang ikalawang sunod na laro para iposte ang kabuuang 63 sa torneo patungo sa paggiba kay Sharapova sa Centre Court.
“I don’t serve like this too often,” wika ni Williams. “I don’t know what it is about this court that makes me serve well.”
“I played really well and I thought I had my chances,” sabi naman ni Sharapova, natawagan ng pitong double faults. “If it was not for her really great serving, I certainly had a real good look at winning the match.”
Sa 2004 finals, binigo ng dating 17-anyos na si Sharapova si Williams, 6-1, 6-4, para sa kanyang unang Grand Slam title.
Umusad din si Rafael Nadal sa third round matapos niyang patalsikin ang kalabang si Paul-Henri Mathieu sa staright set na panalo, 6-4, 6-2, 6-2 at kinakitaan siya na tila wala ng iniindang injury sa kanyang tuhod.
Binigo naman ni Federer, puntirya ang record-tying seventh Wimbledon singles title, si 16th-seeded Jurgen Melzer, 6-3, 6-2, 6-3, para umabante sa quarterfinals sa kanyang 25 sunod na Grand Slam tournaments.