Johanna Konta is one win away from a first grass-court WTA title after beating Magdalena Rybarikova 6-2 7-5 to progress to the Aegon Nottingham Open final.
The British No 1 eased past the Slovakian as she maintained her record of having yet to drop a set in the tournament.
Playing in the semi-finals of the competition for the first time, top seed Konta was quickly into her rhythm, breaking Rybarikova in the fifth game of the match.
Konta did not look back, breaking 28-year-old Rybarikova again shortly afterwards to confidently take the opening set 6-2.
And Konta, 26, looked to be cruising as she broke in the first game of the second set, but Rybarikova immediately hit back.
Temperatures continued to soar and there was a break in play as medics helped a female spectator who was struggling with the heat, with Konta handing over her umbrella.
The set went with serve until the 11th game when a double fault from Rybarikova gifted Konta the advantage before she served out the match.
Konta will now take on Donna Vekic in Sunday’s final of the Wimbledon warm-up tournament after the Croatian beat fifth-seed Lucie Safarova 7-6(5) 3-6 7-6(4) in her semi-final.
