Sensational Lisicki shocks Serena in another stunning Wimbledon upset

Sabine Lisicki of Germany

Sabine Lisicki has been a thorn in the flesh of French Open champions, more than once. In fact in three out of the four previous years, it was the German who dumped the winner in Paris out of Wimbledon. But even then, the German may not have fancied her own chances against the rampant Serena Williams.

The world No. 1 was on a 77-3 run dating back to Wimbledon last year and a 34 match unbeaten streak heading into the fourth round contest. Lisicki though turned into a smiling assassin – turning the tables on the 16-time grand slam champion with immense belief and sensational crunch time execution to match Serena’s power and guile to score a remarkable upset victory.

In a dramatic fourth round match on centre court – Lisicki pounced with vigour to snatch the first set, survived a wipe out in the middle stages before miraculously recovering twice in the final set from a break down to clinch an unbelievable yet convincing 6-2, 1-6, 6-4 victory in just over two hours. It was a great show of character, rarely seen in women’s tennis these days for Lisicki to hang with Serena under dire circumstances in the final set before scripting an enormous upset.

Williams started with customary venom to trouble Lisicki in the very first game – a forehand volley and a backhand cross court winner leaving a stinging imprint on the German. After Lisicki somehow survived to hold in the first game, Serena imposed herself with a hold to love in the next game.

The resilient German was showing immense resolve, as she survived yet another break point in the third game, before mounting an assault in the fourth. She pushed the American to six deuces in a game that lasted 18 points, before Williams pulled out a couple of big serves to keep it together at 2-2.

Serena returned the compliment in the very next game, forcing Lisicki to deuce five times in a 16 point game as the battle started to grow in intensity and length. A second serve ace helped the German stave off the American for the moment.

The world No.1 began the next game with two straight aces, but ended with four errors to surrender the first break of the afternoon. It was a sudden turn that toppled the set on its head and an annoyed Serena gifted a break at love in the eighth game to surrender the first set to Lisicki.