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Ben Curtis, AP
Angelique Kerber of Germany plays a return to Maria Sharapova of Russia during their women's singles match at the All England Lawn Tennis Championships in Wimbledon, London, Tuesday, July 1, 2014. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis)







She had lost only seven games in the past week, and with five-time winner Serena Williams eliminated in the third round, Sharapova was considered the title favorite.


On a day when seven-time men's champion Roger Federer sailed into the quarterfinals, Serena Williams pulled out of her doubles with sister Venus after only three games.

Serena was checked by medical staff before the match even began, and then had trouble serving over the net against Kristina Barrois and Stefanie Voegele.

The chair umpire climbed down and walked over to speak to Serena during the third game. She then served another double-fault to trail 3-0. The sisters walked to the sideline holding hands, and the match was stopped.


Sharapova had 57 winners — 30 more than Kerber — but also had 49 unforced errors, compared to only 11 for the German.

The match featured high tension and intensity. The shrieks emitted on virtually every point grew louder and louder as the match wore on.

The momentum swung back and forth, with Kerber going up 4-1 and saving two break points to lead 5-2 in the final set. She held a match point on Sharapova's serve, but the Russian hit a deep backhand to the baseline that she couldn't handle and the score went to 5-3.



Federer kept up his bid for a record eighth Wimbledon title by beating Tommy Robredo in straight sets to reach the quarterfinals for the 12th time. Federer, who has not dropped a set in the entire tournament, overwhelmed the Spaniard 6-1, 6-1, 6-4 in just over 90 minutes.




