Sport

Lisicki toughs it out to take it in three

She becomes the first German to reach the women’s singles final since Steffi Graf

Sabine Lisicki celebrates victory during the Ladies singles semi final against Agnieszka Radwanska. Photograph: Clive Brunskill/Getty Images
Sabine Lisicki celebrates victory during the Ladies singles semi final against Agnieszka Radwanska. Photograph: Clive Brunskill/Getty Images
Thu Jul 04 2013 - 17:42

Sabine Lisicki became the first German to reach Wimbledon's women's singles final since Steffi Graf after she dug deep to pull off a remarkable marathon win over fourth seed Agnieszka Radwanska.

Lisicki stunned Radwanska by powering her way to the first set of today’s second semi-final, but she then lost five service games in a row to put her chance of victory in danger.

The German lost the second set and went behind in the third, but she summoned the strength she used to defeat Serena Williams to see off Radwanska 6-4 4-6 9-7 and set up a final against France's Marion Bartoli.

Lisicki still had trouble landing her first serve and Radwanska took advantage, breaking to take a 2-0 lead in the third set. The German finally held her serve for the first time since the opening set, and her confidence grew.

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The match seemed to be swinging back in to Lisicki’s favour as she hit a precise cross-court forehand to break back and level the set at 3-3.

Lisicki nervously held and all of a sudden it was Radwanska who was in trouble. Lisicki took advantage of Radwanska’s weak second serve to earn a break point in the ninth game and she took it when the fourth seed lofted a shot wide while in trouble on the baseline.

Serving for the match, Lisicki started confidently with an ace, but Radwanska dug in and engineered two break points. Lisicki answered in the only way she knew how — with brute force — and the game went to deuce.

Radwanska won the next point to earn another break point, but Lisicki answered with her ninth ace of the match. Lisicki could not save a fourth break point though as she sent a lob over the baseline and the set went to 5-5.

Lisicki blew two chances to break with the set at 6-6 and another chance came and went at 7-7 when the German over-hit a regulation forehand at 30-40. Lisicki did not have to worry, though, as she broke soon after when Radwanska fired long.

Serving for the match, Lisicki did not disappoint, sending down a powerful forehand winner before collapsing on the grass after two hours and 19 minutes