Serena accused of 'gamesmanship'

It is no secret that Serena Williams harbours Hollywood dreams, but popular opinion is that the American may have over-dramatised her 6-2, 6-7, 6-2 victory over Daniela Hantuchova of Slovakia in the fourth round of Wimbledon on Monday.

Williams, who suffered from cramps in the second set, crashed behind the baseline at 5-5 and took medical treatment for more than five minutes. She winced and howled in pain as her Slovak opponent was advancing freely in the second set, until the rain break halted Hantuchova's progress and handed Williams a lifeline.

But former champions Michael Stich and John McEnroe were less sympathetic of Williams's performance on court.

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The German is reported to have said on BBC Radio 5, "I thought she was over-acting a little. I'm not saying she wasn't in pain. But for me, when you're injured, it hurts; you get up and get treatment.

"But there's nothing in between being injured or not being injured."

McEnroe, the master of tantrums in his days, termed the Williams show as 'gamesmanship'.

"It seemed like gamesmanship," the legendary American said. "I'm not an expert on cramps, but I know when you can get through them -- so you think gamesmanship."

Though she lost the second set tie-break after the match resumed, Williams, wearing leggings, strolled through the third set.

"I was definitely saved by the rain," Williams said after the match.

The eight-time Grand Slam champion admitted she had thought of quitting the match, but her famous fighting qualities kicked in and the rain delay gave her enough time to bring her mind and body back in shape.

"I thought about not finishing, but very briefly. I've never dealt with such pain. I can't believe I won.

"I was going to die trying. I figured that my heart wouldn't give out so I had a good chance of making it."

Williams was denied a toilet break in the third set, which got her all the more furious. She smashed a racquet to add to the drama.

Though Hantuchova said she felt sorry for her opponent cramping up in the second set, she thought there was nothing wrong with Williams after the rain-break and in the third set.

"Well in the third set I don't think there was anything wrong at all. I think she was moving very well," the Slovak said in her post-match conference. "I don't think there can me too much wrong when you are serving at 120 mph.

"The rain break definitely didn't help me. I mean, when somebody's cramping, usually it's because you're getting tired. She had a couple of hours to rest. After that I think, you know, she played very well."

Williams will renew her rivalry with top seed Justine Henin in the quarter-finals.