World No 1 Barty to face Pliskova at Wimbledon final

LONDON -- World number one Ashleigh Barty of Australia and the eighth seed Karolina Pliskova of the Czech Republic won in the women's singles semifinals at the Wimbledon Championships on Thursday.

Barty, 25, saw off former champion Angelique Kerber of Germany 6-3, 7-6(3). The Australian hasn't lost a set since the opening round and will face her last opponent Pliskova on Saturday as the Czech came from behind to beat the second seed Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus 5-7, 6-4, 6-4.

"I think I was really able to enjoy myself today right from the start. I had a lot of fun," said Barty, who had clinched the junior title at Wimbledon 10 years ago, but has never passed the fourth round in her previous four appearances at the grass-court Grand Slam.