Kvitova sets up Serena clash

Rising Czech star Petra Kvitova will play a maiden grand slam semi-final against defending champion Serena Williams on Thursday after staging a stunning fightback against Estonian qualifier Kaia Kanepi.

The 20-year-old left-hander saved five match points and came from a double break down in the final set to gain a thrilling 4-6 7-6 (10/8) 8-6 victory in an epic quarter-final.

For most of the two hours and 38 minutes it was Kanepi who looked the likely winner and she will long rue double-faulting on one of her match points in the tie-break as well as squandering a 4-0 lead in the deciding set.

Kvitova, who eight days ago had never won a match on grass, dug deep to earn the best win of her career and become only the third unseeded player in the last decade to reach the Wimbledon semi-finals.

She is now bidding to become the first left-hander to win the title since another Czech player, Martina Navratilova, achieved the feat in 1990.