Petra Kvitova advances to Wimbledon final with straight sets victory

Sixth-seeded Petra Kvitova will play for her second Wimbledon title in four years following a straight sets victory over Lucie Safarova in an all-Czech Republic semifinal at the All England Club. 

Kvitova leaned on her grand slam experience and past success at Wimbledon to overcome an uninspiring start and cruised throughout a dominant second set to net a 7-6, 6-1 triumph. 

Skittish in her first grand slam semi, Safarova conceded a break in the opening game, but quickly found her footing. The debutante would tame Kvitova's powerful serve three games later and the pair exchanged blows toward a first-set tiebreak. There, Kvitova clinched with a beautiful cross-court forehand and Safarova dropped her first set at Wimbledon.

Once again, Kvitova broke to begin the second set but was able to seize the advantage in her second opportunity. The 2011 champion would lose just a single game in the second and disposed of Safarova in just 28 minutes. 

In six meetings, Kvitova remains perfect over Safarova. 

Kvitova will meet the winner of the tournament's second semifinal between Simona Halep and Eugenie Bouchard for the Wimbledon title. 

Also of note, Kvitova and Safarova played in the first all-lefty grand slam semifinal in 22 years.