Serena Battles Through Pain to Beat Hantuchova

Serena Williams clinched one of the most dramatic victories of her career on Monday.

Serena Williams clinched one of the most dramatic victories of her career on Monday, battling crippling cramp to beat Daniela Hantuchova 6-2 6-7 6-2 in the fourth round at Wimbledon.

The American seventh seed looked down and out when she collapsed in agony on the Centre Court turf at 5-5 in the second set, having roared back from 5-2 down.

Crying with frustration and screaming in pain Williams needed lengthy treatment before hobbling on to reach a tiebreak when rain came to her rescue at 4-2 down.

When play resumed nearly two hours later Hantuchova finished off the tiebreak with three successive points but Williams was not about to give up without a fight.

A bad-tempered Williams began to move more freely and with Hantuchova seemingly strangled with nerves, the 2002 and 2003 champion surged into a 5-2 lead.

She brought up a match point with a belting drive volley and ended the contest when a bemused Hantuchova netted a backhand.