LONDON - Defending champion Serena Williams was dumped out of Wimbledon yesterday, losing to French ninth seed Marion Bartoli in straight sets 6-3 7-6 (8/6).

Four-time winner Williams, who has only recently returned to tennis after a year-long lay-off, struggled to impose herself against her determined French opponent on Court One.

Bartoli was ecstatic after a fourth-round win that puts her into a quarterfinal against German wild card Sabine Lisicki in today's last eight.

"Beating Serena here is like a dream come true," Bartoli said. "She's been out for a year but she is still one of the greatest."

Bartoli was made to battle every inch of the way as the typically dogged Williams saved three match points in the 12th game of the second set to force a tie-break. She saved a fourth match point in the tiebreak but Bartoli conjured up a booming serve to convert her fifth and advance.

Maria Sharapova overpowered Peng Shuai 6-4 6-2 to reach the quarterfinals while Andy Murray overran Richard Gasquet 7-6 6-3 6-2.