Wimbledon heartbreak for Radwanska

Sabine Lisicki of Germany (left) at the net with Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland whom she defeated in their semi-final match for the Wimbledon Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis Club, in London, Britain, 04 July: photo - EPA/KERIM OKTEN

Lisicki started the semi final on Centre Court by sending down serves of up to 122mph and took the set 6 – 4 after breaking the Pole and number four seed in the eighth game.

Radwanska started to get into her groove in the second set, forcing the German to all parts of the court with clever baseline play.

The Pole from Krakow took the second set 6 – 2 and kept up the pressure early on in the deciding third set.

After going 2 – 0 and then 3 – 0 up, with the German making 37 errors to Radwansk'a six, Poland's most successful ever tennis player let Lisicki back into the match to level 3 – 3, as Sabine re-found her accuracy.

The two semi finalists then held serve until Lisicki broke Agnieszka to go 5 – 4 up.

But Radwanska wasn't finished yet and dug deep to break back to level at 5 – 5, with much of Poland left with chewed finger nails as the tension mounted.

The match went to serve again until Lisicki finally broke Agnieszka's serve and then held her nerve to take the next game, set, 9 - 7, and match, putting the German into her first Wimbledon final.

Radwanska will rue letting Lisicki back into the match when 3 – 0 up in the third.

With Serena Williams out of the competition, the Pole might never have a better chance to take the title at Wimbledon.

On Friday, 22 year-old Jerzy Janowicz faces home-favourite Andy Murray in the men's semi final, with Poles hoping for better luck in what has been a fabulous tournament for Poland. (pg)