Sharapova to meet killer queen Kvitova in Wimbledon final

Maria Sharapova outgunned big-hitting German youngster Sabine Lisicki in straight sets here Thursday to power into her first Wimbledon final for seven years.

The Russian fifth seed -- the winner in 2004 -- overcame a slow start to overwhelm wildcard Lisicki 6-4, 6-3 to advance to a final against Czech eighth seed Petra Kvitova on Saturday.

World number 62 Lisicki, who had stunned second seeded French Open champion Li Na during a fairytale run to the last four, was always in trouble after her powerful serve deserted her midway through the first set.

"It's amazing to be back in the final at Wimbledon, it's been a while," a delighted Sharapova said afterwards.

"I'm really happy even though I didn't play my best tennis today," added Sharapova, who totted up 13 double-faults during a patchy display.

"To be in the final is a great achievement for me but I still feel like I've got more to do."

Sharapova got off to a horrendous start, double-faulting twice in her opening service game as Lisicki surged into a 2-0 lead.

Lisicki, regularly clocking serves timed at 120mph, coolly held to go 3-0 up and soon had Sharapova struggling in the next game.

The Russian favourite saved a crucial break point which would have put Lisicki 4-0 up before eventually holding to remain in touch at 3-1.

With her service game misfiring, Sharapova turned to her booming groundstrokes to try and find a way into the match, attacking Lisicki's suspect second serve to break back in the fifth game.

Sharapova held to level at 3-3 but Lisicki was soon back into her rhythm, holding comfortably to go 4-3 up.

Lisicki's serve unravelled in the eighth game however, and with Sharapova punishing her second serve mercilessly, the German suffered another break.

Sharapova wrapped up the first set with her first ace of the match, letting out a roar of delight as Lisicki trudged back to her chair.

Lisicki's problems deepened in the opening game of the second set as she double-faulted twice to gift Sharapova yet another a break.

With Lisicki in disarray, the 21-year-old appealed to the umpire as specks of rain began to fall on Centre Court in her next service game at 0-30 down.

Play continued however and Sharapova secured another break to go 3-0 up and from there the result was never in doubt.

Lisicki was given a glimmer of hope when she broke in the fourth, but Sharapova broke back immediately to regain the initiative before holding for 5-1. Lisicki secured a break in the eighth game to delay the inevitable, but Sharapova broke again to claim the win.

Kvitova and Azarenka

Earlier, Big-hitting Petra Kvitova of the Czech Republic reached her first Wimbledon final on Thursday when she defeated Belarusian fourth seed Victoria Azarenka 6-1, 3-6, 6-2 in a rollercoaster semi-final.

The 21-year-old, who is the first Czech since Jana Novotna in 1998 to make the title match, will tackle either 2004 champion Maria Sharapova or German wildcard Sabine Lisicki in Saturday's final.

She is also the first left-hander to make the final at the All England Club since her childhood inspiration Martina Navratilova, watching from the Royal Box on Centre Court, in 1990.

"I saw Martina in the locker room and she wished me good luck. I'm so happy but I don't really believe I am in the final," said Kvitova, whose 40 winners to Azarenka's nine were the foundation of her triumph.

Kvitova, with her right thigh tightly-strapped, raced through the first set in just 27 minutes, breaking in the fourth and sixth games, racking up 13 winners and firing six howitzer aces past a hapless Azarenka.

But the fired-up fourth-seeded Belarusian, playing in her first Grand Slam semi-final, stopped her opponent's run of five successive games with a break in the second game of the second set helping her into a 3-0 lead.

Kvitova, who had never won a match on grass before her run to the semi-finals last year, had to save two break points at 1-4 as the match threatened to run away from her.

Azarenka was in the ascendancy, however, and the Belarusian levelled the tie in the ninth game on a third set point when Kvitova went long with a forehand.

Kvitova, who had defeated Azarenka in the third round here last year, then shook off the shackles at the start of the third set and jumped out to a 3-1 with a break in the second game.

She fought off two break points in the fourth game, which she secured with her ninth ace of the tie and wrapped up the match when Azarenka popped up a limp second double fault in the eighth game.

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