GREAT BRITAIN'S Heather Watson fell just short after a brilliant performance against five-time Wimbledon champion Serena Williams on Centre Court.

British No.1 Watson had looked down and out when losing the first set 6-2, but she battled back to win the second set 6-4 against the American before racing into a 3-0 lead in the final set.

However, top seed Williams showed why she is also the world No.1 by fighting back to take the decider 7-5 – and her next opponent will be her elder sister Venus in a last-16 showdown.

A relieved Williams said: "I have had some tough losses, but that was the toughest match. She played unbelievable and should have won the match. She gave her all and showed what a great player she is.

"She could get beyond the top 20, she is playing really well. She should set her sights higher. She was playing so good there was nothing I could do.

"I will speak to Venus over the weekend. She is in better form than me. She has the advantage over me."

Former British No.1 Annabel Croft said: "It was exhausting to watch, gripping stuff. Today you really didn't know who was going to win until the last ball was struck.

"What a great fighting spirit from Heather. She has entertained everyone and should not be ashamed. For Heather to cope with the atmosphere and feed off the crowd was great."

Meanwhile, Maria Sharapova crushed Irina-Camelia Begu with a routine straight-sets victory to reach the last 16 for the 10th time in 13 years.

The 2004 champion bombed out in the second round in 2008, 2009 and 2013, but reached the fourth round for the second year running, where she will meet either Zarina Diyas or 14th seed Andrea Petkovic.

The five-time grand slam champion and fourth seed was in the mood to start her weekend early, completing a 6-4, 6-3 victory.

Sharapova led the second set 5-0 before Begu launched a mini-recovery, but the commanding Russian soon quashed the last of the Romanian's resistance.

Sharapova's victory followed a sizeable upset in the shape of the USA's Coco Vandeweghe dumping out 22nd seed Sam Stosur.

Australian hope Stosur could not contain her pumped-up American opponent, who triumphed 6-2, 6-0.

Fashionista American star Bethanie Mattek-Sands might be frustrated by Wimbledon's strict dress code after suggesting it should be relaxed earlier in the week, but will no longer have to worry about how to be creative with her on-court attire after losing out in straight sets to Belinda Bencic.

Eastbourne winner Bencic continued her fine form by swatting aside Mattek-Sands 7-5, 7-5.