<p>It took Karolina Pliskova almost a decade of trying before she finally reached the Wimbledon semi-finals with a rapid-fire 6-2 6-2 win over little-known Swiss Viktorija Golubic on Tuesday.</p>.<p>Neither player had even made it to the last eight of the grasscourt major before this week but it was Czech's Pliskova, a former world number one, who made her greater big-stage experience count on a floodlit Court One.</p>.<p>"Super happy to be through. It's my first semi-final. First time on this court this year. I had to work really hard to get to this court," said the 29-year-old, who can now look forward to a Centre Court date with either Tunisia's Ons Jabeur or Belarusian second seed Aryna Sabalenka.</p>.<p>"I am going to enjoy this moment because it has never happened for me."</p>.<p>It was a very noisy affair on Court One, but not because the players were creating a racket. The torrential downpour that kept hitting the translucent roof often drowned out the sound of the shots being exchanged by the players and after Golubic saved a break point to draw level at 2-2 in the first set her game unravelled spectacularly.</p>.<p>Eighth seed Pliskova romped through the next seven games, dropping only four points on serve en route to taking the first set, as she steamed ahead 6-2 3-0.</p>.<p>Golubic owns a glorious one-handed backhand but there were only fleeting sightings of her trademark shot as Pliskova's greater firepower proved decisive.</p>.<p>In their only previous meeting 66th-ranked Golubic had staged a spectacular comeback to beat the Czech after being a set and 4-2 down.</p>.<p>If <em>Harry Potter </em>fan Golubic harboured hopes of conjuring another great escape on Tuesday so that she could become the first Swiss to reach the women's semi-finals since Martina Hingis in 1998, Pliskova swiftly snuffed out those plans.</p>.<p>Standing 6-foot-1, Pliskova kept firing down 116 mph missiles that whistled past Golubic's racket.</p>.<p>That serve got her out of trouble when she faced three break points at 4-2 up in the second set and, although she squandered her first three match points in the next game, a forehand into the tramlines from Golubic handed victory to the Czech.</p>.<p>"I feel like I am improving with every match and have improved my footwork. I am feeling super fit," said Pliskova, who has reached the last four without dropping a set.</p>.<p>"I feel my game is quite good the last two weeks in practice and matches. We had some good preparation and hopefully we can continue."</p>
<p>It took Karolina Pliskova almost a decade of trying before she finally reached the Wimbledon semi-finals with a rapid-fire 6-2 6-2 win over little-known Swiss Viktorija Golubic on Tuesday.</p>.<p>Neither player had even made it to the last eight of the grasscourt major before this week but it was Czech's Pliskova, a former world number one, who made her greater big-stage experience count on a floodlit Court One.</p>.<p>"Super happy to be through. It's my first semi-final. First time on this court this year. I had to work really hard to get to this court," said the 29-year-old, who can now look forward to a Centre Court date with either Tunisia's Ons Jabeur or Belarusian second seed Aryna Sabalenka.</p>.<p>"I am going to enjoy this moment because it has never happened for me."</p>.<p>It was a very noisy affair on Court One, but not because the players were creating a racket. The torrential downpour that kept hitting the translucent roof often drowned out the sound of the shots being exchanged by the players and after Golubic saved a break point to draw level at 2-2 in the first set her game unravelled spectacularly.</p>.<p>Eighth seed Pliskova romped through the next seven games, dropping only four points on serve en route to taking the first set, as she steamed ahead 6-2 3-0.</p>.<p>Golubic owns a glorious one-handed backhand but there were only fleeting sightings of her trademark shot as Pliskova's greater firepower proved decisive.</p>.<p>In their only previous meeting 66th-ranked Golubic had staged a spectacular comeback to beat the Czech after being a set and 4-2 down.</p>.<p>If <em>Harry Potter </em>fan Golubic harboured hopes of conjuring another great escape on Tuesday so that she could become the first Swiss to reach the women's semi-finals since Martina Hingis in 1998, Pliskova swiftly snuffed out those plans.</p>.<p>Standing 6-foot-1, Pliskova kept firing down 116 mph missiles that whistled past Golubic's racket.</p>.<p>That serve got her out of trouble when she faced three break points at 4-2 up in the second set and, although she squandered her first three match points in the next game, a forehand into the tramlines from Golubic handed victory to the Czech.</p>.<p>"I feel like I am improving with every match and have improved my footwork. I am feeling super fit," said Pliskova, who has reached the last four without dropping a set.</p>.<p>"I feel my game is quite good the last two weeks in practice and matches. We had some good preparation and hopefully we can continue."</p>