World number one Amelie Mauresmo booked a fourth consecutive Wimbledon semi-final appearance after a battling 6-1 3-6 6-3 victory over Anastasia Myskina on Court One.
Mauresmo had looked so composed on her way to the last eight without dropping a set.
But she did not have it all her own way against the number nine seed, despite racing through the first set in just 21 minutes.
The Australian Open champion, though, still showed all of the qualities which have taken her to the top of the women's circuit to set up a clash with former Wimbledon winner Maria Sharapova.
Myskina secured an early break in the very first game of the match, but the Russian former French Open champion was unable to hold her next service game.
Mauresmo, 26 and the top seed here, then moved 4-1 ahead following another break.
The world number one was now moving through the gears, and produced a number of superb strokes from all over the court as Myskina failed to find her own range.
Mauresmo was soon serving for the set which she closed out 6-1 in rapid time.
Myskina, 24, had beaten her opponent just once in four previous meetings - in Moscow during 2003 - and lost to Mauresmo at the same stage of Wimbledon last year.
However, luck was on her side today when a net cord return from Mauresmo handed the Russian two break points at the start of the second set.
The first of those was converted when her opponent sent a backhand long - and the number one seed never really recovered as the set soon slipped away.
Mauresmo was now under pressure for the first time in the match and found herself trailing 0-3 as the 2004 French Open champion held serve.
The Wimbledon top seed then showed plenty of fighting spirit to force a break-back chance in game seven following a double fault from Myskina.
However, after a tense baseline rally, Mauresmo netted a forehand.
Another break point was squandered, following the third deuce, before an unforced error again from the number one seed saw Myskina move 5-2 ahead.
The Russian then made sure the match would go to a decider when closing out the set on her next service game 6-3.
Mauresmo returned to the court in determined mood, winning her opening service game to love with a 105mph ace.
Myskina, the world number eight, then produced a similar effort, and there was little to choose between the pair as the tension grew in the early afternoon sunshine at SW19.
The first break chance of the final set came in game six against Myskina.
This time the crucial point went the way of the number one seed following a long return from the Russian.
Mauresmo held her next serve to move within sight of a fourth straight semi-final. A stunning cross-court backhand set up a match point in the following game, but she could not take it.
The world number one, though, did not have to wait long to close out a battling victory on her very next service after one hour and 23 minutes.
