Seven-time champion Serena Williams reached the Wimbledon final for the 10th time on Thursday and will face Germany's Angelique Kerber for the title.
The 25th seed downed 13th seed Julia Goerges 6-2, 6-4 to book her place in her 30th grand slam final.
The 36-year-old American, who will be in her first final at the majors since giving birth to daughter Olympia last year, can equal Margaret Court's all-time record of 24 slam titles if she beats Kerber in what will be a repeat of the 2016 final at the All England Club.
Williams put on a superb display of power and athleticism against Germany's Goerges, needing just an hour and 10 minutes to triumph on Centre Court.
Williams, who gave birth to daughter Olympia just over 10 months ago, produced the most impressive display of her comeback and will now attempt to stage a repeat of the 2016 final, when she defeated German Kerber in straight sets.
Williams said: "It's crazy. I don't even know how to feel. I didn't expect to do so well in my fourth tournament back. I just feel when I don't have anything to lose, I can play so free. It's definitely not normal for me to be in a Wimbledon final. I'm just enjoying every moment."
Goerges was playing in her first slam semi-final and Williams her 35th, so it would have been no surprise if the German was a little over-awed, but far from it.
The 29 year -old came out hitting the ball cleanly and landing plenty of winners but, after four very competitive games, Williams pulled away.
Goerges was the first top-50 player the American had faced during the tournament so there was a sense she had not been properly tested, but Williams was simply on another level.
Chasing down Goerges' powerful shots and sending them arrowing into the corners, Williams, who has not lost a Wimbledon semi-final since being beaten by sister Venus in 2000, looked a woman on a mission.
She reeled off the final four games of the opening set and quickly moved in front in the second. Goerges clawed her way back from 2-5 to 4-5, breaking the Williams serve for the only time in the match in the ninth game.
But Goerges was broken again in the final game and, although she hit 20 winners to 16 for Williams, there was no doubt who was the superior player.
The win extended Williams' unbeaten run at Wimbledon to 20 matches, dating back to a third-round loss against Alize Cornet in 2014.
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Read more:
Wimbledon semi-final predictions: Nadal beats Djokovic as Anderson defeats Isner
Roger Federer out of Wimbledon after five-set loss to Kevin Anderson
Williams reaches final as Ostapenko powers past Kerber - Wimbledon semi-final predictions
Wimbledon refuses to budge despite clash with World Cup final
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Earlier on Thursday, Kerber raced into her second Wimbledon final as the German crushed former French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko 6-3, 6-3 in just 67 minutes.
Kerber took the express route to her a fourth grand slam title match with a "blink and you miss it" demolition of Ostapenko on Centre Court.
The 30 year old hit only 10 winners but that was all it took to get the job done as Ostapenko shot herself in the foot with 36 unforced errors.
"I was just trying to move good and take my chances. I'm so excited," Kerber said.
"It's such a great feeling to be back in the final. Playing on Centre Court is always great."
Referencing her dismal form last year, Kerber added: "2017 is over and I'm really happy about that. We are in 2018!
"I'm really happy and proud to be in a Grand Slam final. These are the matches I was working for since I was a kid."
A MINECRAFT MOVIE
Director: Jared Hess
Starring: Jack Black, Jennifer Coolidge, Jason Momoa
Rating: 3/5
At a glance
Global events: Much of the UK’s economic woes were blamed on “increased global uncertainty”, which can be interpreted as the economic impact of the Ukraine war and the uncertainty over Donald Trump’s tariffs.
Growth forecasts: Cut for 2025 from 2 per cent to 1 per cent. The OBR watchdog also estimated inflation will average 3.2 per cent this year
Welfare: Universal credit health element cut by 50 per cent and frozen for new claimants, building on cuts to the disability and incapacity bill set out earlier this month
Spending cuts: Overall day-to day-spending across government cut by £6.1bn in 2029-30
Tax evasion: Steps to crack down on tax evasion to raise “£6.5bn per year” for the public purse
Defence: New high-tech weaponry, upgrading HM Naval Base in Portsmouth
Housing: Housebuilding to reach its highest in 40 years, with planning reforms helping generate an extra £3.4bn for public finances
The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young
In numbers: PKK’s money network in Europe
Germany: PKK collectors typically bring in $18 million in cash a year – amount has trebled since 2010
Revolutionary tax: Investigators say about $2 million a year raised from ‘tax collection’ around Marseille
Extortion: Gunman convicted in 2023 of demanding $10,000 from Kurdish businessman in Stockholm
Drug trade: PKK income claimed by Turkish anti-drugs force in 2024 to be as high as $500 million a year
Denmark: PKK one of two terrorist groups along with Iranian separatists ASMLA to raise “two-digit million amounts”
Contributions: Hundreds of euros expected from typical Kurdish families and thousands from business owners
TV channel: Kurdish Roj TV accounts frozen and went bankrupt after Denmark fined it more than $1 million over PKK links in 2013
MATCH INFO
Crawley Town 3 (Tsaroulla 50', Nadesan 53', Tunnicliffe 70')
Leeds United 0
Brief scoreline:
Manchester United 2
Rashford 28', Martial 72'
Watford 1
Doucoure 90'
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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