Serena blasts Wimbledon claims

Updated 09.35 Thu Jul 05 2007
Keywords: Justine Henin, Venus Williams, Serena Williams, Wimbledon, tennis, sport

Twice Wimbledon champion Serena Williams has blasted claims she exaggerated her calf injury during her dramatic fourth-round victory over Daniela Hantuchova.

Williams collapsed to the ground in agony with cramp in her left calf muscle on Monday before a two-hour rain break came to her aid and she eventually recorded a 6-2 6-7 6-2 victory.

"I do know the pain I was in. I mean, my career is actually more stellar than Michael Stich's, so he can say whatever he pleases" - Serena Williams

She has been accused by 1991 champion Michael Stich of "overreacting", but Williams responded after top seed Justine Henin beat her 6-4 3-6 6-3 in the quarter-finals: "I do know the pain I was in. I mean, my career is actually more stellar than Michael Stich's, so he can say whatever he pleases.

"I'm really excited to say that because I have never experienced that much pain. I've never been over-dramatic in my whole career. I've always been a fighter and I've always fought through things my whole life.

"I've never taken a shot at him. If I were in his position to hit on, to make fun of someone in my position, I would never say that. to go in there firing a gun with no bullets in the chamber."

Venus Williams, meanwhile, fared better, thrashing number two seed Maria Sharapova 6-1 6-3 in less than an hour to book a quarter-final clash with another Russian, Svetlana Kuznetsova.

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