Safina tames Mauresmo after scare
WORLD No1 Dinara Safina became the first player ever to win under the Centre Court roof after surviving an epic battle with 2006 champion Amelie Mauresmo.
The top seed was a set down but 4-1 up in the second when the first rain of the Wimbledon week forced play to be suspended for 30 minutes.
On resumption, under the new roof for the first time, Safina held out to level the match, only to go 3-0 down to the revitalised Mauresmo in the deciding set. But the 23-year-old Russian, seeking a first Grand Slam success, hit back to take the match 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 and set up a quarter-final date with German teenager Sabine Lisicki, who shocked ninth seed Caroline Wozniacki with a 6-4, 6-4 victory.
Meanwhile, Venus Williams has vowed to play through the pain barrier to defend her title after being handed a passage to the quarter-finals.
The five-time winner earned to a late eight clash with Polish 11th seed Agnieszka Radwanska after former world No1 Ana Ivanovic was forced to quit their fourth round clash after suffering a groin injury in the opening game of the second set.
But despite winning the first set 6-1, Williams appeared with strapping around her knee for a third match running, but insisted she would not pull out. “This is Wimbledon, so it doesn’t matter how much pain I’m in, I’m going to keep playing,” she said.
Venus’ sister Serena also cruised into the last eight with a 6-3, 6-1 success over Daniela Hantuchova. She plays Victoria Azarenka, who edged out Nadia Petrova 7-6 (7-5), 2-6, 6-3.
WOMEN’S SINGLES QUARTER-FINAL DRAW
D Safina (1) v S Lisicki
V Williams (3) v A Radwanska (11)
F Schiavone v E Dementieva (4)
V Azarenka (8) v S Williams (2)