Ashleigh Barty stunned Garbine Muguruza 3-6 6-4 6-3 to reach her first-ever WTA Premier final at the Aegon Classic. The Spaniard looked on course for her first final in Birmingham after a routine first set, but her Australian opponent raised her level massively in the last two sets to earn a famous win.

Reflecting on how her performances so far this year have helped her get to this stage, Barty said, “I think it was important for me to take it step by step, and I've been getting better results the more I've played and the more I've gone on this year. So it's really exciting. And to get a first Top 20 win is pretty cool leading into Wimbledon. I’m just really excited about where I’m at.”

The Australian, 21, also explained how she turned the match around. She said, “In the first set, I didn't get a look in on many service games, and being able to get a look in the second set certainly helped my confidence. I also think I served a lot better in the second set.” Barty also described what it was like when she served for the match. She said, “I wanted to stick to my plans, and obviously when you don't make a first serve, it doesn't help you much. But I wasn't panicked at all. I just wanted to go about things the same way I had through the midway of the second set and into the third. I still had a lot of clarity and knew what I wanted to do.”

Barty is hoping for a different type of match against Kvitova in the final than she experienced the only previous time they played – at the French Open in 2012 when the Australian was just 16. She said, “She absolutely taught me a lesson at the French. I was very young back then, but she totally wiped the floor with me, so hopefully, I can turn the tables a little bit tomorrow. Obviously, I'm in a very different place, and she is too.”

The Australian also reflected on Kvitova’s return stating, “It's amazing for everyone to have her back on the tour, and (for her) to be successful straight away is just phenomenal.” She continued, “I don't think you can find any tennis player at all who isn't genuinely pleased she's back on tour and being successful. She's one of the nicest girls you'll ever meet, not just in the tennis world. So it's so nice to have her back out on the court. Obviously, it's a big challenge for me tomorrow. She's won Wimbledon a couple of times and is amazing on grass courts. So it's going to be a good battle for me.”

Kvitova won the other semi-final after compatriot Lucie Safarova retired when she was 6-1 1-0 down. She said, “I couldn't have imagined a better comeback than I am having now. Paris was a bit strange, and I couldn't play my best over there. But I am happy that I am able to play good tennis here.’ She continued, ‘I’ve played four matches now, so it's good preparation for the final. And it's the best that I am going to play for sure, but still, I think that my game (tomorrow) should be same as every other day, to play fast and aggressive and to hit my serve well, and I hope it will help me win again.”

The Czech reflected on Safarova’s unfortunate withdrawal saying, “I know that probably she would retire, but I didn't think that she moved badly on the court. I was just thinking about my game, and I'm sorry for her that she's unhealthy, but I hope she will be better soon. And I think she had a great run here for sure.’ She also shared some thoughts about facing Barty in the final. She said, ‘Ashleigh has great touch. She changes direction a lot and hits slices, volleys and drop shots. So it will always be interesting to play her because you never know what shots she will hit.”

Whether we see Barty’s first Premier title win or Kvitova’s fairytale comeback triumph in tomorrow’s final, it will be a great story either way.