Serena Williams moves to the semifinals at Wimbledon by defeating Petra Kvitova.
Serena Williams celebrates her victory over defending champion Petra Kvitova of the Czech Republic during a Wimbledon quarterfinal match Tuesday in Wimbledon, England.The 30-year-old American produced a brutal display of ground strokes and first serves in an eagerly anticipated contest pitting Williams -- the four-time champion hungry for one more title -- against the hard-hitting lefty from the Czech Republic, desperate to retain her crown.
Williams, the sixth seed, blasted her way through the opening set after breaking serve in the sixth game, and she remained in control in the second set as Kvitova struggled to deal with her serve.
Williams saved a break point in the 10th game of the second set and then broke serve in the next game, allowing her to serve out the match, hitting three aces in the final game.
Williams offered a little sympathy for her opponent, noting that it's difficult to defend a major title, especially for the first time.
"It's not easy. When I defended my first major, I didn't win. She played her heart out. I don't think I've ever seen her play so well."
Williams said she enjoyed playing under the roof as intermittent rain held up other matches throughout the day.
"I loved it," she said. "I've never played under the roof, so it was a first for me. There were no elements, no excuses. I loved the sound. It was really cool."
Williams will face second-seeded Victoria Azarenka of Belarus in the semifinals. Azarenka dispatched Austrian Tamira Paszek, 6-3, 7-6 (4).
In other women's quarterfinals, eighth-seeded German Angelique Kerber beat countrywoman Sabine Lisciki, who eliminated top-seeded Maria Sharapova on Monday, 6-3, 6-7, 7-5. Kerber will play third-seeded Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland, a 7-5, 4-6, 7-5 winner over Maria Kirilenko of Russia.
Meanwhile, the men's quarterfinals are set as the last two American men lost.
American Mardy Fish lost to fifth-seeded Jo-Wilfred Tsonga of France, 4-6, 7-6, 6-4, 6-4.
Fish's much-publicized heart problems earned him respect from the Wimbledon crowd, which showed its appreciation for his tournament run.
"Six or eight weeks ago, I wasn't sure I'd be able to come," he said after the match. "So I'm happy to have made it to the fourth round."
American qualifier Brian Baker's surprising success, especially after his six-year absence after hip, elbow and hernia operations, came to an end as German Philip Kohlschreiber notched up a 6-1, 7-6, 6-3 win. Baker was trying to become just the third American qualifier ever to reach the quarterfinals at the All England Club.
"It's been an unbelievable run," said Baker, who was ranked 458th at the start of 2012 but will rise inside the top 80. "Can't be too upset about that."
Britain's Andy Murray, the fourth seed, continued his suspended match against big-serving Maran Cilic and was too good for the Croat as he completed a 7-5, 6-2, 6-3 win. Murray now meets David Ferrer in a quarterfinal clash, after the Spaniard's convincing straight-sets win -- 6-3, 6-2, 6-3 -- over Juan Martin del Potro of Argentina.
In the men's quarterfinals matchups, it's top-seeded Novak Djokovic of Serbia vs. Florian Mayer of Germany; third-seeded Roger Federer of Switzerland vs. Mikhail Youzhny of Russia; Ferrer vs. Murray; and Tsonga vs. Kohlschreiber.
--James BorgSource: http://www.cleveland.com/sports/index.ssf/2012/07/serena_williams_ousts_defendin.html
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