SERENA: CALL ME AN ALL-TIME GR8

MORE history and Grand Slam glory is there for the taking for self-styled ‘great’ Serena Williams.

While the top seeds continue to fall, Williams marches on and took another couple of steps closer to a record-equalling 24th Grand Slam title.

After Madison Keys became the seventh top-10 seed to crash out, Williams ground down Kristina Mladenovic 7-5 7-6 on Centre Court to reach round four.

Williams will now face world No.120 and fellow mum Evgeniya Rodina when 10th seed Keys was expected to be her next opponent.

And, incredibly, it remains possible for Williams to reach the final without facing a single player ranked in the top 50. “A lot of the top players are losing but they’re losing to girls who are playing outstanding tennis,” Williams said.

“If anything, it shows me that I can’t underestimate any of these ladies. They are just going out there swinging and going for broke.”

Despite being ranked 181 in the world and playing just her fourth tournament since giving birth to daughter Alexis Olympia last September, Williams is seeded No.25 here.

And even though she’s had an unorthodox build-up, Williams is strong favourite to win an eighth Wimbledon crown.

Even Keys admitted her mind started to wander towards a potential clash with Williams during her three-set defeat by Rodina.

She also praised Williams for her ability to continue coping with inspired opponents with nothing to lose, saying it must “suck.”

Williams said: “I’m glad someone admitted that.

“Whether I’m coming back from a baby or surgery, it doesn’t matter. These young ladies bring a game that I’ve never seen before.

“There’s definitely that aura, that aura of playing Serena.

They don’t go out there and say ’I’m going to lose because I’m playing Serena.’ They go out there and say ‘I’m going to play hard because I’m playing Serena.’

“That’s what makes me great: I always play everyone at their greatest, so I have to be greater.”

Sister Venus, the ninth seed, was another big name to fall, losing 6-2 6-7 8-6 to Dutch 20th seed Kiki Bertens.