Tennis: Amelie Mauresmo survived a mid-match slump to reach her first Wimbledon final with a 6-3 3-6 6-2 victory over former champion Maria Sharapova. She will meet Justine Henin-Hardenne in the decider.
The world number one led 6-3 3-1 before 2004 champion Sharapova reeled off five successive games to force a third set in an enthralling semi-final tussle on Centre Court.
Mauresmo recovered her rhythm in the decider, though, and will face the French Open in Saturday's final, a repeat of this year's Australian Open final which she won after the Belgian retired with a stomach upset.
Fourth seed Sharapova has now lost five grand slam semi-finals since winning the 2004 Wimbledon title as a 17-year-old.
Henin-Hardenne reached her second Wimbledon final when she out-hit fellow Belgian Kim Clijsters 6-4 7-6 on Centre Court.
Henin-Hardenne, who needs a Wimbledon crown to complete her collection of grand slam titles, fell a break behind in the first set before reeling off three successive games from 3-4.
Clijsters served for a fluctuating second set at 6-5 but thrashed a forehand wide to let her opponent off the hook and take it into a tie-break.
French Open champion Henin-Hardenne took full advantage, accelerating into a 6-3 lead and clinching the match on her second match point with a sizzling crosscourt backhand.
The result means Clijsters has now lost her last three matches against her compatriot.