The German outsider Sabine Lisicki recovered from wasting three match points to beat France's Marion Bartoli 6-4 6-7 6-1 under Wimbledon's Centre Court roof to win an enthralling quarter-final.
The 21-year-old, out of action for five months last year with a horrific ankle injury, became only the second wildcard to reach the Wimbledon semis, and the first German to do so since Steffi Graf in 1999.
Lisicki's opponent in the semi-finals will be the only name player left in the womens draw, Maria Sharapova who made the last four at Wimbledon for the first time since 2006 with a crushing win over Slovakia's Dominika Cibulkova 6-1 6-1.
The 2004 Wimbledon champion is a hot favourite now to win her fourth Grand Slam title.
