Williams sisters defiant after reign ends

Serena and Venus Williams have vowed to return stronger than ever after their five-year reign at Wimbledon was brought to an abrupt end in the fourth round.

The all-conquering sisters - practically invincible at Wimbledon since 2000 with a staggering nine titles between them - were dumped out in the last 16 after suffering straight sets defeats.

Defending champion Serena was beaten 6-3 7-6 (8-6) by French ninth seed Marion Bartoli while big sister Venus lost 6-2 6-3 to Bulgarian Tsvetana Pironkova for the second year in a row.

“This was definitely not our best day. I think we both envisioned seeing this day going a little bit different,” Venus admitted.

But the Williams sisters rejected suggestions that their double defeat marked the end of an era after a year in which they have both struggled with lengthy injury lay-offs and health problems.

Former world No.1 Serena, who had not played for nearly a year before returning in the warm-up event at Eastbourne earlier this month, insisted she still had the desire to return to the top.

“I made an effort to get out here and play a couple of tournaments. I just can’t sit here and be disappointed. For the most part, I can just use this as momentum going forward,” she said.

“I can only get better and that can potentially be really scary, because I can only go up from here and I can just do so much more.

“I obviously would have loved to do better but considering the condition I was in, considering a lot of things, I really feel I did well.

“I just feel like I can do a lot better, (where as it) would really suck if I was here thinking, wow, I played my best and that was the best that I could do.”

Serena’s defeat will see her world ranking drop to around 180th and she may require a wildcard to compete at the US Open unless she picks up ranking points during the early part of the hard court season.

Venus, 31, who only returned earlier this month after five months out with a hip injury sustained at the Australian Open, is also confident she will improve by the time the North American hardcourt season climaxes at the US Open.

“I look forward to it. I got ready for this tournament so fast. You wouldn’t even believe how quick that happened,” she said.

“With more time, I think I can definitely play better.”

World No.1 Caroline Wozniacki insists she still deserves to be top of the rankings even though the Dane endured another grand slam flop at Wimbledon on Monday.

Wozniacki was beaten 1-6 7-6 (7-5) 7-5 by Slovakian 24th seed Dominika Cibulkova in the fourth round and has now failed to make it past the last 16 at the All England Club in five attempts.

The 20-year-old’s numerous critics will seize on this latest failure as further proof that she doesn’t deserve to be No.1.

Wozniacki lost her only grand slam final against Kim Clijsters at the 2009 US Open and she failed at the French Open recently, losing in the third round against Daniela Hantuchova.

It was the same old story on Court Two as she crumbled under pressure against the inspired Cibulkova, who will play 2004 champion Maria Sharapova in the last eight.

But Wozniacki is adamant it was just a bad day at the office against Cibulkova and not a true reflection of her ability.

“Well, to be honest, I don’t really care what people think or say or do,” Wozniacki said.

“I cannot really do anything. I did my best and it wasn’t good enough.

“That’s something that happens sometimes. I have a chance and I usually take it. That’s why I am where I am.”