( CNN ) -- Maria Sharapova powered her way to a first Wimbledon final in seven years after she brushed aside Sabine Lisicki to set up a meeting with Petra Kvitova . The Russian claimed her first ever Grand Slam title as a 17-year-old back in 2004 and recovered from an early wobble against German wildcard Lisicki to triumph 6-4 6-3 . Standing in between Sharapova and the fourth major championship of her career will be Kvitova , from the Czech Republic , after she beat Belarusian fourth seed Victoria Azarenka 6-1 3-6 6-2 . Sharapova told reporters after her match : `` It 's amazing to be back in the final at Wimbledon , it 's been a while . `` I 'm really happy even though I did n't play my best tennis today . To be in the final is a great achievement for me but I still feel like I 've got more to do . '' The final looked a long way off when the fifth seed slumped to 3-0 down in the opening set , after a series of untimely double faults handed Lisicki the advantage . But when the German squandered a chance to go into a 4-0 lead Sharapova burst into life and took six of the next seven games to secure the first set . She then raced into a 5-1 lead in the second before Lisicki secured a break of service to give her a lifeline , but it was quickly snuffed out as the Russian broke back immediately to secure her place in Saturday 's showpiece final . Kvitova , who lost in the semifinal stage last year to Serena Williams , is the first left-handed player to reach the final since compatriot Martina Navratilova in 1990 , and the 18-time major champion was watching on from the royal box . The eighth seed took a mere 27 minutes to secure the opening set , breaking her opponent 's serve twice and registering six aces on her way to a 6-1 success . But Azarenka -- the highest seed left in the final four -- recovered her composure and roared back into contention in the second set , securing two breaks to take it 6-3 . That setback only inspired Kvitova to greater heights as she grabbed the initiative with a 3-1 lead in the decider and watched as Azarenka served a double fault to hand her victory . She told reporters : `` I saw Martina ( Navratilova ) in the locker room and she wished me good luck . I 'm so happy but I do n't really believe I am in the final . This is the best day of my life . '' `` I started really well , all match it was about serve so I was happy mine went well in the third set . In the beginning it was close but after I broke her , I played well and she was a little bit down I think . `` She played very well in the second set and it was tough after that but I tried to play it as if it was a normal game and not the Wimbledon semifinal . '' Azarenka acknowledged she was beaten by the better player and said Kvitova is well capable of securing an upset against the favorite Sharapova . `` I probably could have played better but when I had chances she really came up with the good stuff , '' she said . `` I think she can beat anybody any day , because right now she has a really good game . She 's really going for it . If she 's going to play like this , like she played today , I 'm sure she has all the chances to win the next match . ''
Maria Sharapova will play Petra Kvitova in the ladies final at Wimbledon . Russian fifth seed Sharapova beats German Sabine Lisicki 6-4 6-3 . Czech eighth seed Kvitova triumphs 6-1 3-6 6-2 over Victoria Azarenka . It is Sharapova 's first Wimbledon final since she won in 2004 .