Friday 25 January 2019 07:10, UK
Petra Kvitova will play Naomi Osaka in the Australian Open final after they each won their semi-finals on Thursday morning.
Kvitova defeated Danielle Collins 7-6 6-0 before Osaka beat Karolina Pliskova 6-2 4-6 6-4 in the final four.
For Kvitova in particular, qualifying for a Grand Slam final represents a major achievement two years after she needed hand surgery having been the victim in a knife attack.
"I don't think that many people believed that I could do that again, to stand on the court and play tennis to that kind of level," she said.
"It was just a few of them, I think. I'm very happy to have those few around me. And it definitely feels great - I hope for them as well, and for my family and everyone who was there when I needed it."
Kvitova has twice won Wimbledon, most recently in 2014, but is now gearing up to claim a third Grand Slam title. She added: "It's been five years. That's why I worked hard to be back here. It tastes great."
Japan-born Osaka has reached her second Grand Slam final after winning the US Open last year.
She fired 56 winners past Pliskova, who had previously eliminated Serena Williams in the last eight.
Osaka and Kvitova will also contest the world No 1 ranking in Saturday's final.
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