Sharapova Serves up Title Chance

Sharapova serves in semi-final

It is seven years since Sharapova landed her maiden grand slam title, toppling Serena Williams as a 17-year-old at the All England Club.

However she is on the verge of a second Wimbledon title - and a fourth grand slam crown - after she booked her place in the final by beating Germany's Sabine Lisicki 6-4 6-3.

The Russian will now take on Petra Kvitova, with Sharapova having had to overcome serious shoulder issues - and nearly a year away from the sport - to reach this stage again.

This will be Sharapova's fifth grand slam final and she admitted that the thought of competing in more kept her going during her rehabilitation.

Sharapova said: "I think when you know how good it feels to lift the big trophies, the ones you really want in your career, and when you know how well you can play ... that's why I never had interest in stopping. I always felt like I had a lot better things in me.

Tough

"You're going to have certain doubts when you go through something like that knowing that not too many players have recovered fully from something like that.

"In a tennis life everything happens automatically. You know when the next tournaments are. You wake up in the morning, you know you're going to go to practice. You know you're going to have a couple of days off. Everything is kind of on autopilot.

"Then all of a sudden you just stop.

"I certainly didn't like being in an indoor centre doing these little exercises with 30 repetitions every time. It was so annoying. It really was.

"I'm not really the type of person that ever gives up. Even though it was tough, I believed in myself."

Kvitova was a surprise semi-finalists at Wimbledon 12 months ago, however her subsequent form on grass means Sharapova knows she will not have things her own way on Saturday.

"I expect her to be a really tough opponent," Sharapova said.