Karolina Pliskova scythed down Kiki Bertens of the Netherlands 6-1 6-2 yesterday to move into the Eastbourne final, where she will meet reigning Wimbledon champion Angelique Kerber.
The world number three, who has not dropped a set so far in Eastbourne, fired 21 winners and never faced a break point to reach her third title clash at the venue in four years.
“I think I was just playing much better than last year, more free and just went for it a little bit more,” Pliskova, the 2017 champion, said.
“So really, (Bertens) was always under pressure and I was just always attacking, even though she can still serve well at some points.
“I was just coming to the net a little bit more than I was last year, so I think I used my game better than I did last year against her.”
Kerber progressed after her opponent Ons Jabeur withdrew from the other semi-final with a right ankle injury.
“It’s for sure not the way I would like to reach the final because to getting another match on my belt before Wimbledon, that was the goal,” Kerber, who begins her Wimbledon defence against compatriot Tatjana Maria, said.
“But of course I hope that she recovers soon and she is ready for Wimbledon.
“I have a day off, I practised a bit already, and now the focus is for the final tomorrow.”
Kerber leads Pliskova in their head-to-head record 7-4. 
nMany of the traditions of the Wimbledon tennis championships have endured for decades but this year one familiar courtside sight will be missing.
No longer will players be taking new racquets out of polythene wrapping bags when they break a string or want a replacement.
The All-England club has removed plastic bags from the player racket-stringing operation as part of a raft of environmentally-friendly moves, which means there will be 4,500 fewer such bags used at this year’s tournament, which starts on Monday.
“We believe that Wimbledon, along with other major events, has a vital role to play in helping to protect the environment, today and for the future,” said club chief executive Richard Lewis in a statement.
Last year’s Wimbledon men singles finalist, Kevin Anderson, who is also the vice-president of the Association of Tennis Professionals Player Council, has called for all major tournaments to scrap the packaging.
Last year, no waste produced from the championships went to landfill, the club said, and plastic straws were also banned.
Wimbledon is not the only London sports event becoming more environmentally friendly — the Oval cricket ground has reported that it has reached 90% of its target to become completely single-use plastic free.