Lisicki stuns Sharapova

Sharapova had romped to a straight sets win over Lisicki in last year’s semi-final at the All England Club, but the top seed was completely out-played by the 15th seed this time. The 25-year-old has 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 earlier this month.
But she came back down to earth with a bump on Court One as Lisicki, beaten in the first round in her four pre-Wimbledon tournaments, produced one of the best performances of her career.
“I certainly had chances; I didn’t take them. But I think a lot of the credit goes to my opponent,” Sharapova.
“She played extremely well and did many things better than I did on this given day. She came after the rain delay really firing. You just have to hand it to her.”
Sharapova could lose her world number one ranking depending on her rivals’ results at Wimbledon, but she refused to be downbeat as she contemplated a well-earned rest.
Meanwhile, six-time Wimbledon champion Roger Federer admitted he was racked by severe back pain before beating Xavier Malisse 7-6 (7/1), 6-1, 4-6, 6-3 to reach a 33rd successive Grand Slam quarter-final.
The Swiss great, who goes on to face Russian 26th seed Mikhail Youzhny for a place in the semi-finals, had to come from two sets to love down to see off France’s Julien Benneteau in the last round.
The 30-year-old appeared to be in serious trouble again after taking a 4-3 lead in the first set against Malisse, having to leave Centre Court to take a medical time-out where pain-killers were dispensed to cure back pain. I was in a lot of pain,” said 30-year-old Federer, who regularly wrapped a towel around his hips and back when he sat courtside during the changeovers for the rest of the last 16 tie which was played in a chilly 15 degrees. “The treatment and the pain-killers worked. I started to feel better as the match went on. But it was a shock for it to happen in the first set of a Grand Slam when you have to play five on grass. — AFP.