Agnieszka Radwanska ended Poland's 75-year wait for a Wimbledon singles finalist as she crushed Angelique Kerber's title hopes.
Radwanska triumphed 6-3 6-4 on Centre Court and will face Serena Williams or Victoria Azarenka in Saturday's title match.
Jadwiga Jedrzejowska was a Wimbledon runner-up for Poland in 1937 but world number three Radwanska is Poland's first grand slam singles finalist in the open era, which began in 1968, and it was her defence which was key in fending off Kerber.
Radwanska lashed a forehand into the net in the third game and she repeated the error to be pegged to 30-all, and Kerber brought up break point by outrallying Radwanska and opening up the court to plant away a forehand to the right corner. She took the chance, again outmanoeuvring Radwanska.
Kerber's hitting became erratic in the sixth game and Radwanska broke back to 30, before racing through the next three, finishing the set with an ace.
Kerber fell a break behind in the fifth game of the second set when she firstly sent a cross-court backhand wide and then found the net on the next point and when Radwanska took the game to lead 4-2, it was hard to see her wasting the opportunity.
Kerber made Radwanska serve for the match at 5-4, but the 23-year-old did not falter.
A crunching backhand winner from Kerber gave the German the first point, but Radwanska snagged the next three to bring up two match points.
And after another long rally, Kerber lofted a sliced backhand into the tramlines to spark a jump for joy from her opponent.