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Serena sees off golden girl Shvedova in tense final set to march into quarter-finals

Four-time Wimbledon champion Serena Williams came through a tough test of her title credentials on a damp and drizzly Court No 2 as she saw off Yaroslava Shvedova in three sets.

Conditions were rarely better than grim, with a strong wind ripping around for the duration and the final games being played under fine rain.

But Williams overcame the elements, as well as her in-form opponent - Shvedova recorded the first-ever 'golden set' at a grand slam on Saturday - to progress to a 12th Wimbledon quarter-final, winning 6-1, 2-6, 7-5.

Safely through: Serena Williams celebrates after defeating Kazakhstan's Yaroslava Shvedova

Power games: Williams blasts a forehand to Shvedova on Court No 2 at the All England Club

Her winning shot - a backhand that Shvedova failed to respond to - came with the rest of the courts taking shelter from the rain, but Williams insisted afterwards she never considered asking to leave the court.

'I didn't want to lose today, I thought stay relaxed,' she said. 'I felt fine. We both wanted to keep playing as it was so deep into the match. I didn't want to stop and I don't think she did.'

It had looked as though the match would be wrapped up in no time at all when Williams took the opening set without barely breaking sweat.

Shvedova actually took the first point of the match, raising fanciful hopes of another perfect set, but that was neither likely nor expected and she then lost her first service game when she netted a forehand.

Dangerous opponent: The sixth seed is chasing a fifth Wimbledon crown

Her second game with ball in hand went in Williams' favour too and at 4-0 down with 11 minutes gone, the omens were not good for the 24-year-old from Kazakhstan.

She made a fist of the closing games, though, and despite losing the set was far more competitive, highlighted when she broke WIlliams in the sixth game of the second set when she forced the American to net.

Another break in the eighth game - a backhand winner completing the job - got her level at 1-1 and set up a decider, which was a chanceless affair until Williams earned a seventh-game break point.

She was unable to take it, Shvedova serving away from trouble, and when she squandered three more in the ninth game, it appeared that fortune was not with Williams.

Dogged: Kazakhstan's Shvedova pushed Williams all the way into the third and deciding set

But when another chance came her way at 5-5 she took it, albeit through her opponent's error, and she served out for the match, digging out a brilliant backhand lob at 30-30 to set up her one and only match point.

Welcome home! History boys Spain greeted by jubilant fans in Madrid after Euro glory

been feted on the streets of Madrid after flying home from the Ukraine with the Euro 2012 trophy. 

After beating Italy 4-0 in Kiev on Sunday night, the Spanish contingent flew home on Monday afternoon to a rousing reception in the capital.

From the parade, Cesc Fabregas tweeted: 'I cant describe what we r going through at the moment.. Thanks so much!'

Welcome home: Tens of thousands of people filled the streets of Madrid as the Spanish national team were paraded through the streets

King of Cups: Prince Felipe, Princess Leonor and Princess Sofia gave the personal touch to the celebrations, while Iker Casillas and the rest of his squad were later swamped by the public

Captain Iker Casillas and manager Vicente del Bosque proudly paraded the trophy as they stepped off their flight at Barajas airport.

From there it was on to a welcome party with Spanish King Juan Carlos at La Zarzuela Palace before they took to the streets in an open top bus celebration.

Spain became the first country to win three major trophies in succession thanks to Sunday's epic win.

Fernando Torres believes Spain have established the yardstick by which future international success will now be measured.

Snap: The Spanish team pose for a photo with Spanish King Juan Carlos at La Zarzuela Palace

Spain off the plane: Iker Casillas holds the trophy alongside boss Vicente Del Bosque

All smiles: Del Bosque and Casillas enjoyed touching down in Madrid

Spain reign... in numbers

20 - Competitive games since they last lost.
29 - European Championship games without defeat since going down 2-0 to Sweden in a qualifier in October 2006.
8 - The number of Spaniards to have appeared in two European Championship final victories - Iker Casillas, Andris Iniesta, Xavi Hernandez, Fernando Torres, Cesc F`bregas, Xabi Alonso, Sergio Ramos and David Silva.
79 - International clean sheets for Casillas, who has won 100 of his 137 games to date for his country.
513 - Minutes since Casillas last conceded a goal, in the 1-1 Group C draw with Italy on June 10.
189 - The total number of minutes played by Torres at the finals.
63 - The average number minutes on the pitch needed for Torres to score each of his three goals.
3,946 - Completed passes at Euro 2012.
620 - Total passes attempted by Xavi.
531 - Total passes completed by Xavi at an average success rate of 86%.

Del Bosque's men destroyed Italy in the final of Euro 2012 in Kiev last night to become the first team to win three successive major international tournaments, including the World Cup.

Torres came off the bench to score the third goal in a 4-0 hammering as Spain added another European title to their Euro 2008 and World Cup 2010 crowns.

The Chelsea striker told Marca: 'You can't ask for more, but it is the work of the team and the togetherness that has brought us here.

'You always want to win more and more, but right now we have to enjoy this. We have won by a distance against a great team like Italy.

'We are very happy. This was the objective that we had at the start of the tournament. We knew we were the opponent to beat, that it was going to be more difficult than ever and it has been.

'We had luck in some moments of the championship but at the end we will reflect on what today means in Spanish football history. 

'We have dominated from start to finish and enjoyed a magical evening. Now we can say that national teams of the future will concentrate on us to try and make history.'

I'll drink to that: Pepe Reina, Santiago Cazorla, Sergio Ramos and Xabi Alonso enjoy a toast

Landing: The Spanish side wore shorts and t-shirts as they emerged into the Madrid heat

Souvenirs: Gerard Pique (left) and Andres Iniesta took home some special footballs for memories

Hotting up: Supporters are sprayed with water as they wait for the team to arrive at Plaza Cibeles

Torres spent much of the tournament on the sidelines as Spain played for long periods without a recognised striker, with Cesc Fabregas deployed as their most advanced player.

But he finished the campaign with three goals and, courtesy of his assist for Juan Mata's fourth, the Golden Boot.

He also became the first player to score in two European Championship finals following his winner against Germany four years ago.

We think he means two trophies: Casillas and Del Bosque with the trophy on board the plane

Pride: The plane taking the players back home had two national flags up front

Torres, who only started three of Spain's six games, added: 'Football is like this, This is my third Euros, in the previous ones I played almost all the games and scored two goals. In this one I have played less but won the Golden Boot.

'Football can be just or unjust like that depending how you look at it and that is why we like it so much.'

Cool: Sergio Ramos peers through his sunglasses on the tarmac at the airport

Wave: Casillas was greeted by crowds as he headed into the check-in area

Spain's first two goals came from David Silva and Jordi Alba, while Barcelona midfielder Andres Iniesta was named man of the match in the final and hailed a truly historic achievement.

'This is something unique, magical and unrepeatable,' he told AS. 'We have to enjoy the moment. The important thing is Spain are the champions which is what we came here for.

'It was a very complete game, we played very well with the ball and when Italy were left with 10 (when Thiago Motta went off injured) we pressured them very well. We played such a good all-round match which is what was demanded of us in this fi

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