26 Jun 2011

Serena Williams accuses Wimbledon organisers of sexism

9:48 am on 26 June 2011

Serena Williams has accused Wimbledon officials of sexism after she was shunted out to Court Two for her second round match against the Romanian teenager Simona Halep.

Despite being the defending champion, tournament organisers decided Williams' match was only worthy of a place out in the far reaches of the All England Club.

But the four-time champion argued that the top men would never be treated with the same lack of respect that's been served up to both her and her sister Venus, who've won nine Wimbledon singles titles between them.

However the defending men's champion Rafael Nadal had to play on Court One rather than Centre Court in his match with Gilles Muller overnight Saturday - and Serena was extended to three sets by her young opponent.

Serbia's former world number one Ana Ivanovic hardly raised a sweat during her straight sets win over the Greek Eleni Daniilidou 6-3 6-0.