Women's game not 2nd class anymore, says Serena

LONDON: Serena Williams believes the seismic shocks that saw Ana Ivanovic and Maria Sharapova crash out of Wimbledon prove beyond doubt that women's tennis is more than a match for the men's.

World No 1 Ivanovic lost to China's Zheng Jie, the world 133, 6-1, 6-4 on Friday in the third round, just 24 hours after third seed Maria Sharapova was dumped out by fellow Russian, and world 154, Alla Kudryavtseva, 6-2, 6-4.

"Everyone seems to be out to win these days. Everyone wants to beat a top player," said Williams, the champion in 2002 and 2003. "Whenever I go out to play everyone wants to win. They seem to bring their A-game against me."