LONDON, July 1: Raw desire, an indomitable spirit and a forehand like a mule's kick swept 17-year-old Siberian Maria Sharapova into the Wimbledon final on Thursday. The ice-cool Russian with a Floridian twang shoved former world number one Lindsay Davenport another step nearer retirement with a 2-6 7-6 6-1 win on Centre Court.

"I don't know what to say, I'm going to cry right now," she panted, seconds after stepping off the sport's most prestigious stage. "This is unbelievable. This is amazing - I never in the world expected to do so well here, it's incredible."

Unbelievable, amazing and incredible it was. Only Martina Hingis as a 16-year-old in 1997 had reached a Wimbledon final younger during the Open era. Certainly she will need all her youthful energy and exuberance when she lines up opposite twice-champion and top seed Serena Williams in Saturday's final.

Serena, bidding to become the first woman to win three straight titles since Steffi Graf in 1993, outlasted France's Amelie Mauresmo 6-7 7-5 6-4 in a tense affair. The 22-year-old American, who beat her sister Venus to win the last two finals, said: "This is definitely the most special moment in my career.

It was really tough out there. It doesn't matter what happens now - I am here. "I really feel... I feel I am playing well again. "I feel that is the toughest match we have had," added the American who has now won seven of the pair's eight matches.

Playing grand slam tennis for only the second year, Sharapova was initially over-awed and outclassed by 1999 champion Davenport. For the Russian it was a first grand slam semi - Davenport was playing her 15th.

But the girl who left her mother behind in Russia to train full-time in the United States as a seven-year-old is a quick learner. She adapted to her surroundings smartly after losing the first set and proceeded to turn the match on its head, becoming the first Russian to reach a Wimbledon singles final since Olga Morozova 30 years ago.

After a wait of more than a century, Russia could now have two women's grand slam champions within a month as Sharapova has a chance to emulate Anastasia Myskina's victory in the French Open.

For Davenport, it was a sad end to a Wimbledon career which began in 1993. After losing she confirmed what she had been hinting at all tournament - that she would not be returning to the grasscourt grand slam.

"I just feel like I've had, you know, an amazing career, a very long one," said the 28-year-old who made her Wimbledon debut in 1993. "I just don't feel the same kind of excitement sometimes before matches.

The wins don't get me as excited any more. On the flipside, the losses don't hurt as much." That attitude was never going to be enough against Sharapova. Serena's victory underlined her return to form since knee surgery last year.

She battled her way back from a set down against Mauresmo who, by and large, kept her jangling, suspect nerves under control but who was at times hampered by a lower-back injury.

Women's singles semifinals