Kvitova Beats Safarova to Move to Second Wimbledon Final

The 2011 winner is the only former champion to reach the final four women after French Open winner Maria Sharapova lost in the fourth round and five-time champion Serena Williams followed her sister Venus out. Kvitova, the 24-year-old sixth seed, will play the winner of the second semifinal between No. 3 Simona Halep of Romania and Canada's Eugenie Bouchard, Bloomberg reported.

"I know how it feels to hold the trophy," Kvitova said in a televised interview. "I really want to win my second title here, and I will try everything that I can." She said playing her friend Safarova made for "a tough match mentally."

With Kvitova unable to take advantage of a break in the opening game between two Czech left-handers, play went into a tie-break. Kvitova quickly got to a 4-2 lead, only for Safarova to rally back to 4-all. Kvitova missed her first set point at 6-5 as she was unable to return a serve out wide. She didn't waver on the second set point, letting out a loud yelp and clenching her fist after she took the set on a cross-court forehand.

"I tried to be focused at the beginning of the second set when I won the tie-break," Kvitova said. "I kept it going and served well in the last points."

Ace Leader Kvitova struck 24 winners, including eight aces, compared four aces among 18 winners for her opponent. She's fired 38 aces in the tournament, the most of any woman.

Swinging more freely after Safarova's first set-loss of the Wimbledon championships, Kvitova broke for a 2-0 lead in the second set with another cross-court forehand winner. Aiming most of her serves at Safarova's double-handed backhand, Kvitova held for 3-0.

Serving for a 4-1 lead, Kvitova saved a break point with a serve aimed straight at her opponent's body, who was unable to put the ball back over the net. Forcing Safarova further down the back of the court with deep ground strokes, Kvitova broke for a 5-1 lead on an unforced error. Serving for her second Wimbledon final, Kvitova set up three match points with an ace, and won the match with a backhand.