Serena powers through
DEFENDING champion Serena Williams overcame a brave performance from 2004 champion Maria Sharapova to blast into another Wimbledon quarter-final.
The top seed recovered from a marathon tie-break in the first set to come through 7-6 (11-9), 6-4 against the popular Russian on Centre Court.
Williams now plays China’s Na Li in the last eight after she took out seventh seed Agnieszka Radwanska with a 6-3, 6-2 victory.
The American remains on course for another all-Williams final with sister Venus after she edged out Australian Jarmila Groth 6-4, 7-6 (7-5) to earn a last-eight clash with Tsvetana Pironkova, who beat Marion Bartoli to prevent a rematch of the 2007 final.
Kim Clijsters won the battle of the comeback queens from Belgium, recovering from a shaky first set to beat Justine Henin 2-6, 6-3, 6-3.
The shock of the day saw third seed Caroline Woznacki thrashed 6-2, 6-0 by unseeded Czech Petra Kvitova, while No4 seed Jelena Jankovic is also out after retiring injured while trailing 6-1, 3-0 to Vera Zvonareva.