Sprem plays through the pain

Karolina Sprem revealed how she played through the pain barrier to book a place in the quarter-finals at Wimbledon.

The 19-year-old Croatian sensationally knocked out two-time former champion Venus Williams in the second round at the All England Club.

And despite being hampered by an ankle injury, she took just 76 minutes to wrap up a 6-4 6-4 win over seasoned campaigner Magdalena Maleeva.

Sprem will now face former champion Lindsay Davenport in the last eight, and reflected: “It’s an unbelievable feeling, but I’m tired right now.

“I did not know before today’s match whether I would play or not. But they taped up the leg well and I didn’t feel the pain.

“I will have some treatment and be better prepared for my next match.”

She added: “I am just playing match by match. I just want to go on the court and play 100%, if I can.

“To be in the quarter-final here at Wimbledon, I didn’t think I would do this, but I am happy with it.”

Sprem admits she could do with a day off tomorrow to help recover from her injuries, but may well have to come back a day early given the delays because of rain during the opening week.

Davenport, meanwhile, was given a stern examination by Vera Zvonareva on Centre Court, where the young Russian broke down in tears after seeing her 3-0 lead in the second set clawed back, and then went on to capitulate 6-4 6-4.

The American, at number five the highest seed left in the bottom half of the draw, is in no doubt she will face another tough encounter against Sprem.

“She has beaten some very good players here,” reflected the 1999 champion. “It will be a tough baseline match.”

There was better news for another of Russian’s rising stars, though, as Maria Sharapova secured her first quarter-final appearance at Wimbledon with a battling straight-sets win over American veteran Amy Frazier.

The 6-4 7-5 victory was not without controversy, though, as at match-point, the line judge ruled Sharapova’s forehand was long, only for umpire Sandra de Jenken to overrule and make the players replay the point, with Frazier then netting a return to give the 13th seed a second successive appearance in the last eight of a Grand Slam.

“She made me work for it,” reflected Sharapova of Frazier, who had knocked out French Open champion and number two seed Anastasia Myskina in the last round.

“Going into the match, you know she is playing well, but also that you are too and that you’ve had good matches and won tough matches.”

The 17-year-old reached the fourth round on her Wimbledon debut in 2003 and believes she is growing stronger with every match.

Sharapova declared: “I had the experience last year and am getting more now. Physically I am a lot stronger and I’m feeling very good.”

In the third-round matches which were completed today, Tatiana Golovin of France beat Switzerland's Emmanuelle Gagliardi 6-3 2-6 6-3 to set up a meeting with defending champion Serena Williams.

Silvia Farina Elia, the 14th seed from Italy, will face number four seed Amelie Mauresmo after winning 2-6 6-4 7-5 against Spaniard Virginia Ruano Pascual.

Japan’s Ai Sugiyama, seeded 11, beat Tamarine Tanasugarn of Thailand 6-3 7-5, and will now face Sharapova for a place in the last four.

“There’s nothing I can really predict, because I have never played her before,” reflected the young Russian.

“I’m in the quarter-final and so is she – we have been playing some very good tennis in order to get here. I am looking forward to a very tough match.”