Serena 'rains' supreme

Williams screamed in pain as she was struck by cramp in her left leg at 6-5 down in the second set of her fourth round match with Daniela Hantuchova, but bravely carried on after treatment and managed to force a tie-break.

Hantuchova led 4-2 when the rain intervened, buying the two-time champion almost two precious hours to receive treatment. And although Hantuchova won the tie-break when play resumed, Williams fought back with typical intensity to win the decider and seal a 6-2 6-7 6-2 victory and a quarter-final clash with Justine Henin.

Williams dramatically collapsed to the court at 30-15 with the scores at 5-5 in the second set. It looked like a bad case of cramp in her left leg and Williams - watched by her parents and sister Venus - screamed in pain as she received treatment still lying beyond the baseline in front of the Royal Box.

Williams was in tears as she gamely got to her feet after the injury time-out, but made no effort to reach Hantuchova's serve down the middle and could then only hobble along the baseline and swat the next serve into the net.

The leg was then hastily strapped at the change of ends and Williams remarkably held serve to force a tie-break despite playing at walking pace. Hantuchova raced into a 4-0 lead and was 4-2 in front when more rain arrived, and that proved the turning point of the match.

Hantuchova won the first three points on the restart to take the tie-break 7-2, but Williams had certainly not given up hope and was playing with characteristic determination, breaking her racket by slamming it into the turf after dumping a simple forehand into the net.

She also appeared to be moving and running freely, almost chasing down a long overdue drop shot from Hantuchova in the fourth game, and broke serve in the sixth game when Hantuchova hit consecutive tame backhands into the net.

The 24-year-old Slovakian had a chance to break straight back but Williams pulled out all the stops when it mattered, a forehand winner down the line followed by an ace, both accompanied by enormous screams of 'come on' which could be heard all around the All England Club.

Hantuchova looked completely bewildered and it was no surprise when Williams broke serve again to seal a dramatic win.