• Plays of the Day

Making a racket

It was not a classic performance from Maria Sharapova, but she will not care after booking her place in the Wimbledon final for the first time in seven years © Getty Images

Enlarge

Related Links

• News: Kvitova sees off Azarenka to reach first grand slam final
  
• News: Sharapova digs deep to reach Wimbledon final
  
• News: What They Said
  
• Features: Young pretender Kvitova poised to make her mark
  
• Profile: Victoria Azarenka | Petra Kvitova | Sabine Lisicki | Maria Sharapova
• Gallery: Wimbledon: Day 10

ESPN.co.uk will be providing live scores and analysis from Wimbledon throughout the tournament.

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

A taste of her own medicine
With two of the loudest grunters - Maria Sharapova and Victoria Azarenka - in action in the women's semi-finals, spectators on Centre Court would have been forgiven for packing their earplugs. And they would have come in handy when an ear-piercing squeal began to sound during Azarenka's match against Petra Kvitova. No, it wasn't the scream queen Azarenka giving it her all, but a fire alarm going off somewhere outside the stadium. Azarenka, whose shrieks often drive opponents to distraction, looked flustered. Kvitova had clearly got used to the noise of Azarenka and didn't seem too bothered.

Unlucky for some
Serving for the match, Sharapova served her 13th double fault. The Russian's serve remains a frailty of her game, but it was not to be unlucky No. 13 as she booked her place in the final in straight sets. Indeed, Sharapova seems to like the number 13 - back in 2004, she won her first grand slam title as the No. 13 seed.

Lucky Lisicki
With Sabine Lisicki facing a third consecutive break of serve in her semi-final against Sharapova, the German wildcard needed a little bit of luck. A backhand appeared to be heading well wide, but it clipped the net cord and deflected in.

Making up for it
With her Wimbledon dream quickly unravelling, Lisicki was attempting to stave off defeat. The German had done all the hard work, luring Sharapova into the net with a drop shot, leaving the court wide open for an easy winner, only to see her shot hit the net. However, she atoned for her mistake in spectacular fashion, unleashing a huge forehand winner to hold serve and force Sharapova to serve for the match.

Bouncing back
After the disappointment of missing out on a place in the final, Lisicki soon had a smile on her face. Just hours after her defeat to Sharapova, Lisicki was back on court with doubles partner Sam Stosur, and the pair knocked out sixth seeds Nadia Petrova and Anastasia Rodionova 7-5 1-6 6-1 to reach the semi-finals.

Mark of a champion
They say the sign of a true champion is the ability to win through when regardless of how well they are playing - Rafael Nadal has proved this time and time again. Despite 13 double faults, Sharapova booked her place in the final with a gritty performance - not a classic, but the all-important victory.

Out of left field
Left-handed players are few and far between on the women's tour, but Kvitova is taking full advantage. The last left-hander to reach the women's final at the All England Club was another Czech-born player, Martina Navratilova - winner of nine singles titles and 11 doubles titles at the All England Club. "I saw Martina in the locker room and she wished me good luck," Kvitova said after her win. "I'm so happy but I don't really believe I am in the final."

Unlucky No. 8
Don't tell Kvitova, but an eighth seed has never won the ladies' title at Wimbledon. Since the start of the Open Era back in 1968, the No. 8 seed has reached the final three times, but has never taken home the trophy. Back in 1974, Olga Morozova was beaten 6-0 6-4 by second seed Chris Evert; Jana Novotna lost 7-6 6-1 6-4 to Steffi Graf back in 1993, and most recently, eighth seed Justine Henin lost 6-1 3-6 6-0 to defending champion Venus Williams in 2001.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.