Karolina Pliskova has halted the title charge of home favourite Johanna Konta to book a place in the Aegon International final.
The towering Czech returned to Centre Court yet to drop a set at Devonshire Park this week, and maintained her unbeaten record against the British No.1, who confirmed she will be fit for Wimbledon despite an injury scare.
“I had great results this year on grass except the one in Birmingham, but it was after a tough week in Nottingham [where she won the title]. But I still was able to win the doubles there. So at least something,” said world No.17 Pliskova.
“So far, I'm happy with the tennis the way I'm playing here this week. This was the toughest match this week but happy to be through. Looking forward to the final tomorrow.”
Pliskova notched up a 300th ace of the season in the early stages of the first set - a reminder of the task Konta faced on her return to the sun-drenched Eastbourne lawns.
With opportunities few and far between, the opener headed into a tie-break. An acute volley and a barrage of backhands built a 5-2 lead for the Eastbourne resident, but the Pliskova serve helped draw them level again at 5-5.
However, Konta then chipped two successive drop shots to grasp a 7-6(5) opener.
I played again a bunch of really, really good matches against really, really good players
In the second, Pliskova secured a decisive break for 3-1 when the No.11 seed netted a forehand pass and couldn’t quite latch onto a volley.
A nasty slip for Konta saw the world No.18 surrender one break point and Pliskova instantly added to the frustration with a brace of aces.
“It was quite an aggressive fall the way it happened,” said Konta, who was very emotional at the change of ends.
“It just rattled me a bit. It was a bit of a shock, I couldn't actually get up because my body spasmed up a bit, but nothing major happened.
“I tend to cry when I get shocked. Don't shock me, guys!” quipped the British No.1 before confirming she will be fully fit for Wimbledon next week. “Honestly, guys, I'm fine.”
Trailing 1-4 at the change of ends, Konta said to her coach: “What do I have to do to break?” The Czech was showing few weaknesses and broke for 6-3 to make it a one set shootout for a ticket to the final.
The Nottingham champion capitalised on a few errant volleys from Konta and then held to love to race into a 2-0 lead.
A valiant effort from Konta staved off five break points in game three but Pliskova converted and marched into the final by swatting away a backhand return winner to complete a 6-7(5), 6-3, 6-3 triumph.
“I mean, she's tough. Even if you lose the first set - in Indian Wells I won the first set [their last meeting]. She's still playing the same tennis. She doesn't give you much mistake. It's tricky,” said Pliskova in praise of her opponent.
The Czech also predicts that Konta can forge a deep run at SW19 over the next fortnight.
“Anything is possible. I think if she continues playing like this - she beat some very good players this week. So I think she can do it in Wimbledon,” added the Czech. “She's getting stronger mentally and she's having a big game, big serve and big strokes from both sides.
“She doesn't have like any weakness in the game. If she's playing solid like this she can beat anyone. I'm not talking about the top three or top four players but the others I think she's able to beat.”
Meanwhile Konta is delighted with her showing at her hometown tournament ahead of another Wimbledon campaign.
“Well, it was pretty spectacular in a way. I played again a bunch of really, really good matches against really, really good players,” she said.
“I got to stay at home that much longer. So, I think overall it's been a very happy and positive week.”
Konta also learned her first round Wimbledon opponent on Friday, Puerto Rican Monica Puig. "She's been playing well, made semis here. Yeah, so it will be a tough match. But we played I think once previously last year on the grass and it was a close match then. I'll expect nothing other than it being tough.
"Going into the match it will be 50/50, and I will go in there and try to get it as much in my favour as possible."
Pliskova will meet Dominika Cibulkova in Saturday’s showpiece. The world No.21 ruthlessly halted the promising run of qualifier Puig 6-2, 6-1 in her second match on Friday to secure a first ever final on grass.
The Slovakian, the 2014 Australian Open finalist, has shot back to prominence following achilles surgery last year and has now reached four finals in 2016 on four different surfaces.
“I didn't even realise! So that's nice to hear that. My first final tomorrow on the grass. It’s really great,” reflected Cibulkova who has been surprised by her progress.
“From the first match I was playing really, really good. I had a tough opponent. I played against Ostapenko, a big girl,” added the No.12 seed.
“That was a good sign when I won 6-3, 6-3. I was like, ‘OK!’ For the first match it was really good, and I just kept going. I also had no expectations. I took it as a warm-up. I said every match extra here is good.”
