Seventeen-year-old Russian Maria Sharapova overhauled former champion Lindsay Davenport 2-6, 7-6, 6-1 on Thursday to become the second-youngest Wimbledon finalist since tennis turned professional.

The Siberian-born teenager, who left her homeland for Florida as a seven-year-old, became the first Russian since Olga Morozova in 1974 to reach the final, where she will face holder Serena Williams who beat France's Amelie Mauresmo 6-7, 7-5, 6-4 in the second semi-final.

In the open era only Martina Hingis, who won the title in 1997 as a 16-year-old, has played in a final at a younger age than Sharapova's 17 years and two months.

"This is unbelievable, I don't know how I'm in the final. This is crazy," said Sharapova. "This is my favourite Grand Slam and I'd never imagined I'd be in the final so early.

"I don't know what to say, I'm going to cry right now."

Davenport won the last of her three Grand Slam titles in Melbourne four years ago and at 28, her relative lack of mobility was exploited by Sharapova in a contest lasting one hour 52 minutes.

A lengthy rain-disruption just after the start of the second set came to the rescue of Sharapova, who had earlier appeared overawed at playing in her first major semi-final.

"I just kept believing in myself and somehow I tried to find a way to turn it around," Sharapova added.

The American fifth seed, playing in her 15th Grand Slam semi-final, initially had more problems with the British weather than with her opponent.

Sharapova and Davenport had played just two points before rain forced them to scurry back into the locker room for 30 minutes.

Once they returned, the 1999 champion capitalised on Sharapova's nerves to break in the opening game by forcing the Russian to net a backhand.

Davenport then made her experience count as the Russian struggled to control her spectacular shots.

BATTLING INSTINCTS

Sharapova could do little to stem the flow of unforced errors as Davenport reeled off five games in a row to seal the first set and move ahead 2-0 in the second.

But a second rain disruption, this time for 50 minutes, recharged Sharapova's batteries and she came out firing to break Davenport in the sixth game to get back to 3-3.

The Russian's battling instincts kicked in again when she was forced to save break points in the ninth and 11th games, each time with an ace.

The tiebreak became a battle of wills as the players exchanged a flurry of mini-breaks before Sharapova grabbed a 4-3 advantage with a ferocious drive volley.

Cheered on by the Centre Court crowd, the 13th seed levelled the contest after 80 minutes with a scorching crosscourt winner.

The teenager continued to captivate fans with her attacking play and boundless energy in the decider, forcing Davenport on to the back foot to edge into a 4-1 lead with yet another blistering forehand winner.

As Davenport's game disintegrated into the grey clouds hovering over Centre Court, Sharapova booked her place in the final after the American sailed forehand long.

With a look of disbelief on her face, Sharapova stood behind the baseline, soaking up the atmosphere before blowing kisses to all corners of the stands.

The 22-year-old Serena, who beat her sister Venus to win the last two finals dropped her first set of this year's tournament to Mauresmo but the 24-year-old fourth seed failed to hold her nerve.

Serena battled to win the second set, during which Mauresmo had treatment for a back injury, and sealed victory in the third when Mauresmo sailed a forehand long.