Holding for a 5-2 second-set lead, Angelique Kerber was four points from forcing Ash Barty to a final set.
The world No. 1 amped up her aggression with an 11-point run conquering Kerber 6-3, 7-6(3) to reach her first Wimbledon final.
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Afterward, Kerber credited Barty for taking more risk at crunch time and reaping the rewards.
The top-seeded Barty hit 22 more winners than Kerber—38 to 16—to reach her second Grand Slam final.
"I think it was at the end just only two, three points which change the game," Kerber said. "But also, like, the match, I mean, she was able to go for it. She risk it in the important moments when she was down.
"I was not able in this moment to play my game. I know that you have to play until the last point. Also when she came back I fought and I tried my best to still win the second set. But, yeah, in the tiebreak she played well and I make too many mistakes, especially in the tiebreak at the beginning."
Former world No. 1 Kerber warmed up for Wimbledon capturing her 13th career title on home soil in Bad Homburg and carried a 10-match, grass-court winning streak into her third Wimbledon semifinal.
"I think she played really well today. I think we both played on a good and high level," Kerber said. "I think we both give everything we could on court today.
"I was trying to playing my game. But she had always a good answer. I think that her game suits to grass court really well. Yeah, she played great in important moments. I think that was the key at the end."
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