BIRMINGHAM, England — Karolina Pliskova of the Czech Republic reached her first grass-court final when she beat Kristina Mladenovic of France 6-2, 7-6 (6) in the Aegon Classic on Saturday.
Pliskova's final hurdle will be Angelique Kerber, who won the other semifinal against German compatriot Sabine Lisicki, the former Wimbledon finalist, 6-3, 6-3.
The sixth-seeded Pliskova and unseeded Mladenovic were interrupted three times by downpours, and after two of them Pliskova immediately broke serve.
Mladenovic, who knocked out three seeds, missed three set points in the tiebreaker and lost her chance to extend the match.
"I knew the end of that match was key," Pliskova said.