Sunday 9 August 2015 11:22, UK
Karolina Pliskova advanced to her fifth WTA Tour final of the year after beating American Varvara Lepchenko 6-2 7-5 in the Bank of the West Classic in Stanford.
The fourth-seeded Pliskova recorded her 39th victory of the season, one shy of Serena Williams, and will make her top-10 debut when the rankings are released on Monday.
"This is the best match I've played here so far," Pliskova said. "I can still play better. I can change a few things.
“But I have found some level where I can play. I've improved a lot mentally, and I'm going for every shot."
In her previous four finals appearances this year, Pliskova, from the Czech Republic, won in Prague but lost in Sydney, Dubai and Birmingham.
She averaged 105 mph on her first serve and had five aces en route to winning 81 percent of her first-serve points.
"My serve is solid now," Pliskova said. "She was struggling with the return. I'm happy I closed it out in two sets. This couldn't be a better start to the hardcourt season, and I hope I can build off this."
Lepchenko, who beat top seed Carolina Wozniacki in the second round, committed 50 errors, 24 of them unforced.
Fifth-seeded Angelique Kerber of Germany faces Elina Svitolina of Ukraine in the second semi-final.
