MARIA Sharapova has thundered into the Wimbledon final, earning a tilt at a fourth major - and Czech surprise Petra Kvitova.
Sharapova defied poor serving and German opponent Sabine Lisicki 6-3 6-3 to reach her second All England Club final.
The Russian, champion here as a 17-year-old in 2004, will start a short-priced favourite.
But 13 double faults against outclassed Lisicki exposed Sharapova to moments of crisis.
Kvitova reached the final only a year after winning her first match on grass.
The left-handed Czech's incredible progress was sealed with a 6-1 3-6 6-2 semi-final triumph over fourth seed Victoria Azarenka.
Urged on by nine-time champion Martina Navratiova - a Czech-born southpaw - Kvitova reached her maiden grand slam final in 104 minutes.
The baseliner, 21, will now attempt to become only the third left-handed female to win Wimbledon after Navratilova and Ann Jones.
Sharapova overcame a slow start, recovering from 0-3 in the first set to wrest back control.
Once settled, Sharapova dictated ruthlessly - despite initial serving troubles.
Lisicki faded surprisingly quickly, slumping throughout the latter stages of the opening set and throughout the second.
The only thing keeping her in the contest was Sharapova's erratic serving.
The Russian stumbled badly when she attempted to seal victory at 5-2, but missed a simple volley and then double-faulted.
Winner of the Australian, US Open and Wimbledon titles, Sharapova could rise three places to No. 3 if she defeats Kvitova.
She was ecstatic on advancing, having battled for more than two years with right shoulder problems.
"It's amazing to be back in the final of Wimbledon.
"It has been a while. I didn't play my best tennis today, so it was tough.
"I had stay focused and get back on track.
"It's a great achievement for me, but there's still a lot of work to be done."
Seeded eighth, Kvitova was a semi-finalist here last year.
She is chasing history on several fronts at the All England Club.
She is the first lefty to make a grand slam final since Monica Seles at 1998 French Open and the first Czech to reach the Wimbledon decider since Jana Novotna won here, also in '98.
"I'm so happy and I don't really believe that I'm in the final," she said.
"It's my favourite surface and I'm very happy. I cannot believe it."
Watched by royal box glitterati containing Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark, Robert Redford, Jack Nicklaus and Greg
Norman, Azarenka dissolved into repeated error.
The Belarussian screecher dropped serve in the fourth and sixth games of the first set.
The Kvitova procession was halted only by an alarm system which prompted Australian chair umpire Kerrilyn Cramer to briefly stop play.
In the end, Kvitova chose to play on and soon sealed the set in 27 minutes with 13 winners and only three unforced blunders.
Azarenka was a mess but, against the run of play, the right-hander regrouped.
She regained her composure and suddenly tilted the pressure back onto Kvitova's shoulders.
The Czech cracked with previously unseen errors and, in a twinkling, Azarenka stormed to a 4-1 advantage.
Azarenka weathered a minor serving crisis at 5-3 to level the match as Kvitova showed glimpses of a recovery.
She renewed her attack on Azarenka's fraying nerves and careered to a 3-0 lead after the Belarussian floundered in the second game of the deciding set.
Azarenka shaped to make a revival midway through the set before Kvitova pulled away once more.
Azarenka had been desperate to prove she is not fragile, but a double-fault on match point hardly erased the perception.
The world No. 4 has retired from four matches since March this year - and 12 times since the start of 2010.
Maria Sharapova (Russia)
Age: 24
Lives: Bradenton, Florida. US
Height: 188cm
Weight: 59kg
Ranking: 6
Grand Slam titles: 3
Career titles: 23
Career win-loss: 401-97
Coach: Thomas Hogstedt
Petra Kvitova (Czech Republic)
Age: 21
Lives: Fulnek, Czech Republic
Height: 183cm
Weight: 70kg
Ranking: 8
Grand Slam titles: 0
Career titles: 4.
Career win-loss: 190-89.
Coach: David Kotyza
Head to Head
Sharapova leads 1-0
2010 - Memphis (hardcourt) - Sharapova 6-4 6-3
Sharapova defied poor serving and German opponent Sabine Lisicki 6-3 6-3 to reach her second All England Club final.
The Russian, champion here as a 17-year-old in 2004, will start a short-priced favourite.
But 13 double faults against outclassed Lisicki exposed Sharapova to moments of crisis.
Kvitova reached the final only a year after winning her first match on grass.
The left-handed Czech's incredible progress was sealed with a 6-1 3-6 6-2 semi-final triumph over fourth seed Victoria Azarenka.
Urged on by nine-time champion Martina Navratiova - a Czech-born southpaw - Kvitova reached her maiden grand slam final in 104 minutes.
The baseliner, 21, will now attempt to become only the third left-handed female to win Wimbledon after Navratilova and Ann Jones.
Sharapova overcame a slow start, recovering from 0-3 in the first set to wrest back control.
Once settled, Sharapova dictated ruthlessly - despite initial serving troubles.
Lisicki faded surprisingly quickly, slumping throughout the latter stages of the opening set and throughout the second.
The only thing keeping her in the contest was Sharapova's erratic serving.
The Russian stumbled badly when she attempted to seal victory at 5-2, but missed a simple volley and then double-faulted.
Winner of the Australian, US Open and Wimbledon titles, Sharapova could rise three places to No. 3 if she defeats Kvitova.
She was ecstatic on advancing, having battled for more than two years with right shoulder problems.
"It's amazing to be back in the final of Wimbledon.
"It has been a while. I didn't play my best tennis today, so it was tough.
"I had stay focused and get back on track.
Seeded eighth, Kvitova was a semi-finalist here last year.
She is chasing history on several fronts at the All England Club.
She is the first lefty to make a grand slam final since Monica Seles at 1998 French Open and the first Czech to reach the Wimbledon decider since Jana Novotna won here, also in '98.
"I'm so happy and I don't really believe that I'm in the final," she said.
"It's my favourite surface and I'm very happy. I cannot believe it."
Watched by royal box glitterati containing Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark, Robert Redford, Jack Nicklaus and Greg
Norman, Azarenka dissolved into repeated error.
The Belarussian screecher dropped serve in the fourth and sixth games of the first set.
The Kvitova procession was halted only by an alarm system which prompted Australian chair umpire Kerrilyn Cramer to briefly stop play.
In the end, Kvitova chose to play on and soon sealed the set in 27 minutes with 13 winners and only three unforced blunders.
Azarenka was a mess but, against the run of play, the right-hander regrouped.
She regained her composure and suddenly tilted the pressure back onto Kvitova's shoulders.
The Czech cracked with previously unseen errors and, in a twinkling, Azarenka stormed to a 4-1 advantage.
Azarenka weathered a minor serving crisis at 5-3 to level the match as Kvitova showed glimpses of a recovery.
She renewed her attack on Azarenka's fraying nerves and careered to a 3-0 lead after the Belarussian floundered in the second game of the deciding set.
Azarenka shaped to make a revival midway through the set before Kvitova pulled away once more.
Azarenka had been desperate to prove she is not fragile, but a double-fault on match point hardly erased the perception.
The world No. 4 has retired from four matches since March this year - and 12 times since the start of 2010.
Maria Sharapova (Russia)
Age: 24
Lives: Bradenton, Florida. US
Height: 188cm
Weight: 59kg
Ranking: 6
Grand Slam titles: 3
Career titles: 23
Career win-loss: 401-97
Coach: Thomas Hogstedt
Petra Kvitova (Czech Republic)
Age: 21
Lives: Fulnek, Czech Republic
Height: 183cm
Weight: 70kg
Ranking: 8
Grand Slam titles: 0
Career titles: 4.
Career win-loss: 190-89.
Coach: David Kotyza
Head to Head
Sharapova leads 1-0
2010 - Memphis (hardcourt) - Sharapova 6-4 6-3
