London: Smiling assassin is on the loose, yes you guessed it right! We are talking about none other than Sabine Lisicki who showed the doors to defending champion Serena Williams in the fourth round of Wimbledon here on Monday. She kept on smiling throughout the match till she nailed it by 6-2, 1-6, 6-4.
This turnaround was least expected, especially as the tournament progressed to the second week and also because of the streak of 34 straight wins that Serena was carrying with her. Liscki has been quite famous for the giant-killing that she has done till now as she ousted Svetlana Kuznetsova in the third round in 2010, Li Na in the second round in 2011, and Maria Sharapova in the fourth round in 2012.
The German had a tough start against Williams but she settled down quickly and started dishing out winners against the American's unforced errors. The defending champion was finding it hard, especially with the serves which allowed Liscki to take a comfortable lead of 4-2. As the opening set went till the 44th minute of the match, Serena was done and dusted. But the entertainment factor was still on as she started finding her rhythm back which was quite clear as she didn’t make a single unforced error in the second set.
She won all the six games and rushed to the final set. With a 3-0 lead, she was looking in the commanding position but what was more surprising was the smile on the face of Liscki who was ready to catapult a terrific comeback to break the World Number one’s serve. As the set levelled at 4-4, Lisicki who was looking unruffled throughout the match, ended up winning the third set by 6-4.
Li Na Wins
Meanwhile, in the other tie of the women’s singles, Li Na, who was expecting a tough competition from the Italian Roberta Vinci, had an easy day as it turned out to be an one-sided affair. Li Na won 6-0, 6-2 in her fourth round clash. She will now take on Agnieszka Radwanska in the quarterfinals.
She started off brilliantly, to make her way to the third Wimbledon quarterfinal, as she won five games in a row before an awkward serve which didn’t stop her from clinching the set with 6-0. She kept the momentum going in the second set and seized the opportunity with a wrong-footing cross-court backhand winner for 6-2.
Li is now the only former Grand Slam champion still standing in the top half of the women’s draw.
Radwanska advances
Poland’s Agnieszka Radwanska, the highest remaining seed in the women’s draw, was almost stunned in her match of last 16 by the Bulgarian Tsvetana Pironkova. Pironkova started off brilliantly to win the opening set but the brilliant turnaround from Polish saw her into the last eight. Radwanska managed to clinch this three-set tussle by 4-6, 6-3, 6-3 in two hours and 13 minutes.
Kirsten into last eight
The next big thing of Belgium tennis, Kirsten Flipkens, has made her way to the quarterfinals of Wimbledon after a victory over Italian veteran Flavia Pennetta 7-6(2), 6-3. This is going to be her maiden quarter-final at Major Grand Slam.
Kanepi wins
Meanwhile, in the other tie of the womens’ singles, the dream-run of Laura Robson was halted by Kaia Kanepi, who has made her way to the quarters for the second time. She had a tough time against Estonian before she finally lost by 6-7, 5-7. Robson threw away the opportunity to take away the first set first while serving for 5-4 lead and then 5-2 lead in the tie-break. The match was folded in one hour and 35 minutes, which saw some great fight from Kanepi which was coupled with precarious play of Robson.
Stephens through
Sloane Stephens, a 20-year-old from Palm Springs, Florida, seeded No.17, reached the quarter-finals at Wimbledon for the first time with a 4-6, 7-5, 6-1 victory over Monica Puig of Puerto Rico.