Venus Williams ousts Sharapova

~ Justine Henin knocked off Serena Williams in the quarterfinals.

WIMBLEDON, England -- Venus Williams giggled and hopped on her toes Wednesday, looking more like a kid who just won her first match than a veteran who just beat Maria Sharapova in a showdown of Grand Slam champions at Wimbledon's Centre Court.

Up in the players' guest box, Williams' father jumped for joy, too, thrusting his arms in the air repeatedly.

Two hours later, the setting and the family were the same, yet the mood was far more subdued. Younger sister Serena shuffled off to the locker room, having lost to No. 1 Justine Henin in the quarterfinals at a second consecutive major.

What could have been another wonderful day for the Williams clan at the All England Club was only half so: After three-time Wimbledon champion Venus overwhelmed Sharapova 6-1, 6-3, two-time Wimbledon champion Serena couldn't overcome her own poor health or a determined Henin in a 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 defeat.

Venus Williams punched the air after she defeated Maria Sharapova on Wednesday.

"I wasn't even sure if I was going to go out and play," said Serena, who played with tape on her left calf and left thumb, both injured in her dramatic fourth-round victory Monday. "If I'd have been healthy, I think I would have won, 100 percent."

Managing to be slightly more gracious than after losing to Henin at the French Open -- "All she had to do was show up," was the postmatch assessment then -- Serena said Wednesday: "She played a very high-quality game. I thought she played probably some of her best tennis."

Adventurous tennis, as well, especially late. Trailing 15-30 while serving in the final game, Henin won a 10-stroke rally with a drop shot. She serve-and-volleyed on her first match point, though that didn't work. It ended when Serena sent a backhand long.

Despite acknowledging that she battled nerves late, Henin moved two victories away from her first Wimbledon title, which would complete a career Grand Slam.

Henin next meets No. 18 Marion Bartoli, who reached her first Grand Slam semifinal.