Seventeen-year-old Maria Sharapova overhauled former champion and fifth seed Lindsay Davenport to become the second-youngest Wimbledon finalist since tennis turned professional.
The Russian, playing her first grand slam semi-final, hit back after the loss of the first set to beat 1999 champion Davenport 2-6, 7-6, 6-1.
She looked to be heading out of the tournament when she trailed by a set and a break, but a 50-minute rain delay rescued her.
Sharapova came storming back with an immediate break and converted her third set point in the tie-break.
She maintained the momentum in the final set with two more breaks, and held on for victory.
"This is unbelievable," said Sharapova. "I don't know how I'm in the final. It's amazing, it's my favourite Grand Slam. I never expected to do so well here so early."
The first rain stoppage of the match came after just two points, and Sharapova then dropped her opening service game. Davenport dominated the early stages and the set quickly followed but after going a break up in the second, the rain came again.
This time it was the 28-year-old American who lost her serve when play resumed and Sharapova never looked back.
She fought back from 1-3 down and went on to dominate the tie-break, levelling the match with a fierce backhand winner.
And after Davenport faltered on serve again in the first game of the final set, the increasingly confident Russian raced through to the final.
"I just kept believing in myself," said Sharapova. "I knew she was a champion and had the experience but I just tried to find a way."
Filed by Aidan O'Doherty
