July 3, 2014 -- Updated 1408 GMT (2208 HKT)
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(CNN) -- She has struggled to build on her first grand slam title since winning at the All England Club in 2011, but Petra Kvitova is now one match away from repeating that success.
Kvitova claimed the women's singles championship at Wimbledon at the age of 21, yet she has been unable to advance past the final four of a major in the years that have past.
Up until now, that is, following the Czech's 7-6 6-1 semifinal win over compatriot Lucie Safarova on Centre Court Thursday.
With Safarova coming into the match having yet to drop a set in the tournament, some fancied her to spring an upset and progress past her first-ever grand slam semifinal to reach Saturday's showpiece match.
However, sixth-seed Kvitova broke her opponent at first attempt, before going on to take a tight first set 7-6, winning 8-6 in the tie-break.
Seven games later and the 23rd seed had dropped her second set of the tournament, meaning the world number six had booked her place in her second Wimbledon final.
Semifinal spots at the French and Australian Opens have had to tide Kvitova over since that 2011 success, but now only one of Simona Halep or Eugenie Bouchard -- who meet later Thursday -- stand in the way of her securing a second grand slam title.
Canada's Bouchard is contesting her third straight grand slam semifinal, while Romanian Halep lost to Maria Sharapova in the final of the French Open.
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