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Wimbledon PHOTOS: Bouchard controls her nerves to reach final; Kvitova wins all-Czech showdown
Powerful Canadian Eugenie Bouchard overcame match-point jitters to claim an eventful 7-6(5), 6-2 victory over Romania's Simona Halep 7-6(5), 6-2 at Wimbledon on Thursday and reach a grand slam final for the first time.
The 20-year-old from Montreal harried and chased third seed Halep from the baseline, producing a series of forehand winners.
The match was interrupted three times. After four games Halep, 22, needed treatment on a sore ankle. Then in the tiebreak a spectator was taken ill in the sunshine and had to be led from the stand.
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Wimbledon PHOTOS: Bouchard controls her nerves to reach final
On Bouchard's first match point Halep served an ace, but 13th seed Bouchard complained she had been distracted by a noise in the crowd. She argued with the umpire Kader Nouni but the point stood.
With Bouchard rattled, Halep saved four more match points but her intensity was shot and she sent a ball long to offer the Canadian her sixth chance.
Bouchard thumped down a big serve that the French Open finalist could only push into the net.
"It was a little crazy. I have never ended a match like that," Bouchard said. "I'm happy I kept my focus and didn't get distracted and played well in the last game."
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Wimbledon PHOTOS: Bouchard controls her nerves to reach final
The Canadian, who reached the semi-finals at both the Australian and French Opens this year, meets 2011 champion Petra Kvitova in Saturday's final. The Czech beat compatriot Lucie Safarova in the first semi-final.
"I'm really excited ... it's my first grand slam final so I'm just going to go for it. I will probably have my toughest match yet so I'm looking forward to the challenge," a beaming Bouchard said.
"My coach will watch her play and give me some tips on how she plays, but I'm just going to go out there and play my game. I think I can play even better than I did today."
The semi-final victory shot Bouchard into the world's top 10 in only her second year on the professional tour.
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Wimbledon PHOTOS: Kvitova wins all-Czech showdown
Former champion Petra Kvitova moved within one match of capturing a second Wimbledon title, ending the plucky resistance of Lucie Safarova 7-6 (6), 6-1 in their all-Czech showdown on Thursday.
Although few held out much hope of the 27-year-old Safarova beating her friend, having lost all five of their previous meetings, she had not lost a set en route to her first grand slam semi-final.
"It was a tough match mentally because Lucie is a great friend of mine, we know each other well off the court as well. I am just happy I won," sixth seed Kvitova, 24, told the BBC.
"I am very emotional but I have two days before the final to focus ... I know how it feels to lift that trophy so I will try my best to do it again."
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Wimbledon PHOTOS: Kvitova wins all-Czech showdown to reach second final
After having her serve broken in the opening game, Safarova quickly settled into unfamiliar surroundings on Centre Court, producing a series of venomous winners as the big-hitting left-handers slugged it out from the baseline.
The 23rd seed broke back in the fourth game and matched the powerful Kvitova every step of the way until the 2011 champion made the decisive breakthrough with a breathtaking cross-court forehand clinching a scintillating tiebreak.
Bloodied but unbowed, Safarova continued to attack at every opportunity but without the consistency required to unsettle her opponent.
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Wimbledon PHOTOS: Kvitova wins all-Czech showdown to reach second final
Kvitova stepped up a gear to forge into a 3-0 lead in the second set.
Safarova stemmed the flow in the fourth game but by then Kvitova had her measure and continued the relentless barrage of fierce returns and passing shots to secure victory.
Standing in the way of her second Wimbledon crown will be the 20-year-old Canadian Eugenie Bouchard, seeded 13th.