The Williams sisters remain on track for a second straight all-Williams final after younger sister Serena also advanced, brutalizing Daniela Hantuchova 6-3, 6-1. Venus has now won 31 consecutive sets at Wimbledon, the longest streak since Martina Navratilova’s 40 in a row in 1982-85.

“I don’t know why they don’t have lights here,” complained Haas. “I have never stopped a match a 6-6 before in the final set. It’s tough to come back but I’m happy to get through. I think they should be like the US Open and have a tiebreak in the final set,” Haas complained some more. “I could hardly get out of bed today, but the adrenaline took over.”

“[I] was just thinking that she was any other player, and this was any other match, and I was at any other tournament — you know, not, like, on the biggest stage, at Wimbledon, playing my first Top 10 player,” Oudin said. “I mean, I go into every match the exact same, you know, like, no matter who I play. It’s not, like, ‘Oh, my gosh, I’m playing the No. 1 player in the world.’”

Among other Top 10-seeded results, (4) Elena Dementieva was an easy 6-1, 6-2 winner over unheralded fellow Russian Regina Kulkova, (7) Vera Zvonareva handed an injury walkover to (26) Virginie Razzano, (8) Victoria Azarenka defeating (28) Sorana Cirstea 7-6, 6-3, and (10) Nadia Petrova stopped the run of the Sharapova-killer, Gisela Dulko, 6-3, 3-6, 6-4.

“I thought the rhythm was very high,” said Federer of his match with Kohlschreiber. “We played a lot of tough points. I really thought from my side it was an excellent match.”

Mauresmo will next meet Pennetta, Ivanovic against Stosur, Jankovic against Oudin, and the elder Williams will face Spanish comer Carla Suarez Navarro.

Matches to look for Friday include (2) Roger Federer vs. (27) Philipp Kohlschreiber, (28) Mardy Fish vs. (4) Novak Djokovic, (22) Ivo Karlovic vs. (9) Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, (24) Tommy Haas vs. (11) Marin Cilic, (7) Fernando “Hot Sauce” Verdasco vs. (32) Al Montanes, (13) Robin Soderling vs. Nicolas Almagro, and (15) Tommy Robredo vs. Dudi Sela.

“Losses are tough — more here than at any other tournament,” said Sharapova, who with a slow-healing surgically-repaired shoulder chucked in seven double faults in the second set alone. “I would have liked to have a longer season before coming here…It took me a while to get going. It’s a little too late to start picking yourself up when you’re down a set and 3-love.”

Other Top 10-seeded winners were (2) Roger Federer over Guillermo Garcia-Lopez 6-2, 6-2, 6-4, (7) Fernando Verdasco defeating Kristof Vliegen in four, and (9) Jo-Wilfried Tsonga receiving a walkover against Simone Bolelli.

“It was pretty straightforward,” Williams said. “I really enjoyed being out there. You know, it’s a special moment when you walk back as defending champion on that court, throw those balls up for that first point. It’s a really great feeling.”