Wimbledon entered the twilight zone yesterday as Serena Williams became the latest high-profile champion to fade into oblivion at a tournament where reputations and star status are counting for nothing.

Just when it seemed that this year's grasscourt major had exhausted its quota of shocks with Grand Slam champions Rafa Nadal, Roger Federer, Maria Sharapova and Victoria Azarenka all blotted out of the draw by the second round, along came Sabine Lisicki.

The German, playing a brand of fearless tennis, jettisoned American holder Williams 6-2, 1-6, 6-4 to leave Wimbledon gasping in disbelief once again.

"I'm still shaking, I'm so happy," gulped a tearful Lisicki, who fell flat on her stomach in her moment of triumph. "It's amazing, I love this court so much. It's unbelievable!"

It certainly was unbelievable because even before the first-week exodus of big names, top seed Williams had been the overwhelming favourite to win a sixth title having triumphed at three of the last four majors.

She also walked on court on a 34-match winning streak but her exit left world No.4 Agnieszka Radwanska as the highest seed and Czech Petra Kvitova as the only former champion still alive in the women's draw. "It's not a shock. I didn't do what I do best," said Williams, who won nine games on the trot and took a 3-0 lead in the final set.

While Williams was left to pack away her orange hotpants, world No.24 Lisicki proved that her game usually catches fire at Wimbledon where she has reached at least the quarter-finals in her last four appearances.

"Sabine was on today. She's always on against big players and big courts. She just has a super, super game to play well on grass," added Williams.

Meanwhile, British No.1 Laura Robson looks set to take on Miles Maclagan as her permanent coach after bowing out of Wimbledon yesterday to Kaia Kanepi 7-6 (8/6), 7-5.

Robson employed Maclagan on a temporary basis after splitting with Croatian Zeljko Krajan in May.

The 19-year-old said before SW19 that she would wait to see how they worked together in the tournament before deciding whether to make the Scot her full-time coach.

After reaching the fourth round, she appears to be happy with the working relationship.

Robson said: "It's going pretty well. Yeah, I would say so."

Prior to teaming up with Robson, Maclagan had spells coaching Andy Murray, Marcos Baghdatis and Philipp Kohlschreiber.