Lisicki knocks out Sharapova

World no. 1 Maria Sharapova crashed out of Wimbledon yesterday, while four-time winner Serena Williams and defending champion Petra Kvitova survived major scares to reach the quarter-finals.

Sharapova had been a finalist in three of the last four Grand Slams, and arrived at Wimbledon on a high after winning the French Open for the first time last month.

But the top seed came back down to earth with a bump as German Sabine Lisicki avenged last year’s Wimbledon semi-final defeat against the Russian with a 6-4, 6-3 fourth round victory.

“She played extremely well and did many things better than I did. You just have to hand it to her,” Sharapova said.

Lisicki had lost in the first round of her last four tournaments, but she has hit form at the right time and the 22-year-old’s reward is a last eight meeting with compatriot Angelique Kerber.

“It’s just unbelievable. I’m so happy. I had lost the last three meetings with her, so it’s nice to finally win one,” Lisicki said.

“I just went for my shots out there. I felt great, it’s my favourite tournament. I’m fighter and I fight to the last game.”

Kerber demolished Kim Clijsters 6-1, 6-1 to reach the quarter-finals for the first time.

Such a humbling defeat was a cruel way for Belgium’s Clijsters to say her Wimbledon farewell as the four-time Grand Slam winner prepares to retire after the US Open.

Williams narrowly avoided the same fate as Sharapova as she dug deep to defeat Yaroslava Shvedova 6-1, 2-6, 7-5.

Serena looked set to cruise through as she took the first set in emphatic fashion, Shvedova has been in superb form and she responded impressively to force the American to a final set.

Williams showed why she is a 13-time Grand Slam champion as she finally subdued her gritty opponent to set up a fascinating last eight clash with Kvitova.

Kvitova had cause for concern in a 4-6, 7-5, 6-1 win over Italian 24th seed Francesca Schiavone.

Schiavone was in control after taking the first set, but lost her cool and the match when play was allowed to continue despite rain causing both stars to slip.

Federer through

Roger Federer admitted he was racked by severe back pain before beating Xavier Malisse 7-6 (7/1), 6-1, 4-6, 6-3.

Federer appeared to be in serious trouble again after taking a 4-3 lead in the first set against Malisse, forced to take a medical time-out where pain-killers were dispensed to cure back pain.

Other results: (Women) Paszek bt Vinci 6-2, 6-2; Azarenka bt Ivanovic 6-1, 6-0; Radwanska bt Giorgi 6-2, 6-3; Kirilenko bt Peng 6-1, 6-7, 6-3. (Men) Djokovic bt Troicki 6-2, 6-1, 6-3.