Wimbeldon, England ? Hobbled and hurting and essentially playing on one leg, Serena Williams managed to gut out a three-set victory at Wimbledon on Monday against an opponent who helped by fading right along with the daylight.

Williams crumpled to the grass in the second set with a left calf injury, was treated on court, then kept on playing, barely able to move.

Given a reprieve by a nearly two-hour rain delay, Williams returned to compete, over her mother’s protests.

And she won, prolonging her bid for a third title at the All England Club by getting past No. 10-seeded Daniela Hantuchova of Slovakia, 6-2, 6-7 (2), 6-2, to set up a quarterfinal showdown against No. 1 Justine Henin.

When Hantuchova dumped a backhand into the net for the last of her 28 unforced errors, Williams blew a kiss to the charcoal-colored clouds above Centre Court.

“I thought about not finishing, but very briefly. I thought I wouldn’t be able to live with myself if I hadn’t at least tried,” the No. 7 seeded Williams said.

“I’ve never dealt with such pain. I can’t believe – I can’t believe I won, really.”

Serena’s older sister, Venus Williams, double-faulted 14 times, faced 23 break points, trailed 5-3 in the final set and still figured out a way to beat Akiko Morigami of Japan, 6-2, 3-6, 7-5, in a match suspended because of rain Saturday afternoon.

Michaella Kracijek, younger sister of 1996 Wimbledon men’s champion Richard, defeated Laura Granville of the United States, 6-3, 6-4.