Serena Williams of the US recovers after diving for a shot during her women's singles tennis match against Sabine Lisicki of Germany at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships, in London, July 1, 2013. [Photo/Agencies]

LONDON - German Sabine Lisicki sent another seismic shockwave through Wimbledon on Monday when she dumped five-times champion Serena Williams out of the tournament with a 6-2 1-6 6-4 fourth-round upset.

Top seed Williams, overwhelming favourite for the title with her chief rivals already out, squandered a winning position as the resilient Lisicki, no novice on a grasscourt after reaching the 2011 semi-finals, refused to capitulate in front of a stunned Centre Court crowd.

Williams appeared to have averted danger when she reeled off nine successive games to lead 3-0 in the decider but Lisicki rallied with a gripping fightback.

After breaking to nose 5-4 ahead, the 23rd seed showed no stage fright by securing victory on her second match point to set up a last-eight meeting with Estonian Kaia Kanepi.

Sabine Lisicki of Germany reacts during her women's singles tennis match against Serena Williams of the US at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships, in London, July 1, 2013. [Photo/Agencies]

"I am still shaking, I am so happy," Lisicki told the BBC as Williams followed second and third seeds Victoria Azarenka and Maria Sharapova out of a championship that is confounding expectations.

"Serena played a fantastic match, she is such a tough opponent. It is an amazing feeling to win this match. This is such a special place for me and the crowd were brilliant to me.

"I gave it everything I had, I fought for every single point to try to win it somehow. I'm not thinking about the next match yet."