Kvitova in Hantuchova’s path as Williams exits

The Slovakian beat Williams 6-2 5-7 6-2 to set up a semi-final against fifth-seed Petra Kvitova and she is anticipating a challenging showdown.

“Of course it’s not going to be an easy match,” she said. “She made the semi-finals last year in Wimbledon. And obviously she likes grass. She’s got a huge serve and big game.

“It will be a very difficult match, but I have nothing to lose. I already beat three great opponents and had a great time on grass so far. So I really will have no pressure.”

Williams returned in Eastbourne after a five-month lay-off from tennis and praised Hantuchova’s performance but also claimed to have taken positives out of her week.

She said: “It was hard to capitalise on the serve. It wasn’t predictable out there, but I give her credit, she got a lot of balls back. She played some good tennis most of the time.

“I feel really positive about my matches here.”

Kvitova set up the semi-final clash with Hantuchova with a comeback victory over Poland’s Agnieszka Radwanska. The Czech star lost the opening set 6-1 but recovered well to take the following two sets 6-2 7-6 (7/2) to win the two-hour tussle.

Australian Sam Stosur produced the surprise of the day as she beat first seed Vera Zvonareva 4-6 7-6 (7/4) 6-4 and will face French sixth seed Marion Bartoli in the semi-final and is expecting a challenge.

Bartoli progressed after her opponent – third seed Victoria Azarenka – retired during the early stages of the second set while trailing 6-2 2-0.

In the men’s draw, Italian Andreas Seppi was the first player to book a place in the semi-finals after a 6-2 6-7 (5/7) 6-3 win over Belgian Olivier Rochus.

Igor Kunitsyn of Russia will be Seppi’s opponent in the final four after he easily dispatched Frenchman Julien Benneteau 6-3 6-2.

Serbia’s Janko Tipsarevic beat Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov 6-3 7-6 (7/2) and will face Kei Nishikori who surprised Radek Stepanek, who had beaten first seed Jo-Wilfred Tsonga in the previous round, with a 6-2 6-3 victory.

n Novak Djokovic continued his preparations for Wimbledon with a comfortable victory over Gilles Simon at The Boodles.

The world No 2 was in imperious form at the exhibition event as he brushed aside Simon 6-1 6-2.

The Serbian raced through the first set and began the second by breaking his French opponent’s serve as he coasted to an easy win.