MAURESMO ENDS WIMBLEDON DROUGHT
World number one Amelie Mauresmo laid to rest some Wimbledon demons as she reached her first final with a brave 6-3 3-6 6-2 win over Maria Sharapova.
Mauresmo led by a set and a break in the 2004 and 2005 semi-finals and history looked set to repeat itself.
The top seed lost the second set despite having points for a 4-1 lead.
But Mauresmo established a 4-0 advantage in a gripping decider and withstood Sharapova's increasingly ferocious efforts to recover.
Mauresmo, who had lost in three straight Wimbledon semi-finals, said It was so tight in the second set and I was just thinking about getting to the final
"I was relieved at the end I was able to come back strongly and change the momentum that was in her favour.
"I am very happy. Finally I have got the chance to play for the trophy."
The top seed will face Belgium's Justine Henin-Hardenne in Saturday's final, a repeat of the Australian Open final which Mauresmo won after her opponent retired.
That gave Mauresmo a maiden Grand Slam trophy and many hoped the breakthrough would help her shed the nerves which had blighted her career.

The Frenchwoman, who turned 27 on Wednesday, out-thought and outclassed her 19-year-old opponent in the first set of Thursday's semi-final.