Doubles exit for Williams sisters

Serena and Venus Williams suffered their first Grand Slam doubles defeat since last year's French Open to crash out in the Wimbledon quarter-finals today.

The top seeds and defending champions were beaten 3-6 6-3 6-4 by Russian duo Elena Vesnina and Vera Zvonareva on Court Two this afternoon.

The result continued Zvonareva's superb Wimbledon after she beat Kim Clijsters yesterday to reach the last four of the singles, where she will be the favourite to defeat Tsvetana Pironkova.

The Bulgarian shocked Venus Williams yesterday, and today's defeat means the 30-year-old American will leave the All England Club without a title for the first time since 2006.