• Wimbledon, Day 10

Sharapova digs deep to reach Wimbledon final

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Kvitova through to first grand slam final
What They Said

Maria Sharapova shrugged off a slow start to power past Sabine Lisicki to reach her first grand slam final in over three years.

The Russian fifth seed, who won her first grand slam title at the All England Club as a 17-year-old seven years ago, remained on course for a fourth major title after ending the German wildcard's astonishing run with a 6-4 6-3 victory.

Lisicki, who was stretchered off the court at last month's French Open, has defied the odds to reach her first grand slam semi-final, and she showed no signs of nerves as she stormed to an early lead.

Sharapova opened proceedings with a double fault and was broken to love as Lisicki got off to a blazing start against the Russian. But as with her second-round match against British teenager Laura Robson, Sharapova dug deep to find her way back. An attempted drop shot from Lisicki failed to make it over the net, and Sharapova grabbed her chance; a huge return on the German's second serve sealed the break.

Lisicki hit twice as many winners and half the number of unforced errors as her opponent in the opening set, but after a shaky start Sharapova dominated the rallies and forced the German to make the mistakes, and took full advantage of a weak second serve from Lisicki.

A big return sealed a second break and a chance to serve for the opener. Lisicki staved off set point with a tenacious drop shot, but Sharapova was soon trotting back to her chair after unleashing an ace.

The three-time major champion was in full swing, and threatened to run away with the match after breaking Lisicki's first service game of the second set. A break down and 0-30 on serve, Lisicki asked for the match to be halted when it began to drizzle, but she was ordered to play on and Sharapova broke again to streak towards victory.

Lisicki was rattled and her dream run at Wimbledon was coming to a swift conclusion. But once again, Sharapova's serve let her down, and another double fault handed Lisicki a way back into the match.

Serving for a place in the final, Sharapova produced her 13th double fault of the match to hand Lisicki the break, but it merely delayed the inevitable as the former world No. 1 broke back immediately to secure her place in her first major final since the 2008 Australian Open.

Sharapova will meet eighth seed Petra Kvitova in the final, after the Czech left-hander saw off the challenge of Victoria Azarenka to reach her first grand slam final.

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