Sixth seed Petra Kvitova advanced into her second Wimbledon final after overcoming fellow Czech Lucie Safarova in straight sets.
The 2011 champion beat Safarova 7-8 (8-6), 6-1 in the first all-Czech semi-final at a Grand Slam.
Kvitova will face Eugenie Bouchard, who beat third seed Simona Halep 7-6, 6-2 in Thursday’s second semi-finals, in Saturday’s final.
“I know how it feels to hold the trophy,” the 24-year-old said. “I really want to win my second title and I will do everything I can.”
Both friends, Fed Cup team-mates and training partner had a ding dong ring to their opening affairs on Centre Court before Kvitova started throwing kitchen sink and cutlery at her opponent in the second set.
When the younger of them, Kvitova, immediately broke to move ahead, Safarova found a way to peg her back and level at 2-2 sending a backhand to the corner.
But Kvitova, who leads their head-to-head 5-0, made sure her powerful serving counted.
Safarova did well to save a set point at 5-6, but it was Kvitova who clinched the set with a sharp return and a deceptive forehand.
Kvitova then got her game point on early into the second set, breaking serve to set the stage for a possible progress to her second Grand Slam final, before coming through a tough service game, claiming 70% of points on her first serve and producing 20 winners to move 3-0 ahead.
Safarova had a chance to get back in the contest with a break point in game five but found the net after heaving too much upon a second-serve return.
Kvitova ensured there was no fairytale comeback for the eldest of both as she finished off the encounter, angling away a backhand on match point.
“It was a tough match mentally because Lucie is a great friend of mine,” Kvitova added. “I am just happy that I won.
“I tried to be focused from the start of the second set. I managed to break her service in the firs game and just keep it going and served well.
“I am just emotional from this match. I have two days before the final.”
