• Wimbledon, Day 10

Kvitova sees off Azarenka to reach first grand slam final

Petra Kvitova is through to her first major final © Getty Images

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Wimbledon Day 10 Gallery
Sharapova digs deep to reach final
What They Said

Petra Kvitova bludgeoned her way past Victoria Azarenka to reach her first grand slam final at Wimbledon on Thursday.

The Czech, who was overwhelmed by eventual champion Serena Williams at the same stage last year, went one better to seal a 6-1 3-6 6-2 victory in her second Wimbledon semi-final.

With both players looking to reach their maiden major final, there was much at stake, but after a nervy start it was Kvitova who drew first blood - her powerful groundstrokes forcing the errors from Azarenka.

Azarenka, the highest seed remaining in the competition, had no answer to her opponent's power as Kvitova ran away with the opening set. After opening the match with a double fault, Kvitova served three straight aces to set up three set points as she wrapped up the opening set in just 27 minutes.

With Kvitova firmly in the ascendancy, it was a vital hold for Azarenka, who held serve to love at the start of the second set. As Azarenka appeared to loosen up, Kvitova simultaneously tightened, and Azarenka took full advantage to snatch an early break.

She immediately came under pressure on her serve, but she dug deep to extend her advantage. Azarenka wasted her own chances to break Kvitova again, but she held her nerve to wrap up the set to force the match to a decider.

With Kvitova dominating the opener, and Azarenka the second, it appeared to be a case of who crumbled first in the deciding set, and it was Kvitova who snatched the early breakthrough.

Azarenka was not going down without a fight, and a supreme lob followed by a backhand passing shot saw her grab two break points, but Kvitova held on to take a 4-1 lead and put one foot in the final.

Kvitova's childhood hero, nine-time Wimbledon champion Martina Navratilova, was in the crowd to see Kvitova became the first Czech woman to reach a major final since Jana Novotna in 1998.

Azarenka made just nine winners to Kvitova's 40, but no winner was needed from Kvitova to seal the victory, as a double fault from Azarenka on match point saw Kvitova raise her arms in triumph.

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