World number one Ana Ivanovic's luck at Wimbledon ran out on Friday with the top seed, who survived two match points on Wednesday, hustled out in the third round by China's Zheng Jie.
It was business as usual for five-times champion Roger Federer who swept into the fourth round with the minimum of fuss after blitzing Frenchman Marc Gicquel 6-3, 6-3, 6-1.
But Spanish fifth seed David Ferrer went out 6-4, 6-4, 6-7, 7-6 to 2004 semi-finalist Mario Ancic, the last player to beat Federer at Wimbledon in 2002.
One day after third seed Maria Sharapova's shock exit, the French Open champion could not lift her performance against Zheng, who missed most of the 2007 season with an ankle injury and had never previously beaten a top 10 player.
Zheng, 24, ranked a lowly 133 in singles and better known for her prowess in doubles after lifting the Wimbledon title with Yan Zi two years ago, raced through 6-1, 6-4.
No one was more surprised than Zheng herself.
"I'm so happy. I didn't believe I could win two sets," she told reporters. "I felt today I had the best serve, the better backhand than her. I felt her serve today was just so so. That gave me the chance to play more aggressively."
Ivanovic's departure has opened up the top half of the women's draw, with twice champion Serena Williams stepping up her bid for a third Rosewater Dish by winning the battle of the former champions in a 7-6, 6-1 success against Amelie Mauresmo.
Two days after a netcord came to her rescue after staring defeat in the face against Nathalie Dechy, Serbian Ivanovic struggled to keep the ball in play.
In contrast to Sharapova's gloomy post-defeat news conference, a stoical Ivanovic, 20, said her loss was part of a "learning experience".
"Trust me, it's not easy to lose. Because I think every loss is disappointing," said Ivanovic after suffering the earliest exit by a top seed since Martina Hingis was blown away in the opening round in 2001.
"But you also have to realise that the world won't end. I'm still so young and have many tournaments in front of me."
CLOUDS GATHERED
After four days of sunshine and uninterrupted play, the rain clouds briefly gathered over south-west London, forcing a 90-minute delay to the start of play on the showcourts.
Federer's 62nd consecutive win on grass proved one of his easiest.
Bidding to set a modern era record of six men's titles in a row, the Swiss now has two days off before returning on Monday to face Lleyton Hewitt, the 2002 champion.
"It's always a challenge playing Lleyton," said Federer. He's a great player, a guy I really enjoy watching, as well. He's a great competitor.
Hewitt arrived at Wimbledon still battling a painful hip injury but after being taken the full distance in his opening contest by Dutchman Robin Haase, the Australian has enjoyed two trouble-free contests.
Italy's Simon Bolelli became his latest victim, trounced 6-1, 6-3, 7-6 as Hewitt reached the last 16 for the fifth year running.
Hewitt will have to lift his game again to trouble Federer. Their head-to-head record stands at 13-7 in favour of the Swiss, who has won their last 11 meetings.
Russian Marat Safin followed his second-round win over third seed Novak Djokovic, outlasting Italy's Andrea Seppi 7-6, 3-6, 7-6, 6-4 in fading light.
Sixth seed Williams polished off Mauresmo after coming through an intense opening set full of high quality tennis, taking her record against the 2006 champion to 10-2.
"I'm not playing my best but I'm thinking positive and there's so much more I can do. In the second week I will do a lot better," said Williams.
Fourth seed Svetlana Kuznetsova encountered few problems in defeating Czech Barbora Zahlavova Strycova 6-2, 6-4 and was joined in the last 16 by fellow Russian and eighth seed Anna Chakvetadze who motored past compatriot Evgeniya Rodina 6-4, 6-3.
Marion Bartoli's fairytale run to the final last year took the tennis world by surprise but the Frenchwoman's form deserted her on Friday, the 11th seed falling 6-4, 6-1 to Bethanie Mattek. The American's reward is a fourth-round meeting with Serena Williams.
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