MARIA SHARAPOVA insists she will not be feeling the pressure when she takes on Petra Kvitova in the Wimbledon final on Saturday – because it has taken her such a long time to get back there.

The 24-year-old was certainly not at her best in the semi-finals today but she was still too strong for wild-card entry Sabine Lisicki, winning 6-4 6-3.

Sharapova looked to have the tennis world at her feet when she won the Wimbledon title in 2004 aged only 17, and she went on to lift the US Open trophy in 2006 and the Australian Open two years later.

But a serious shoulder injury put her on the sidelines later in 2008 and it has taken her until this year to really find her top form again and challenge for major titles.

The Russian said: “It’s been many years, but it’s a really great feeling. Today wasn’t my best match of the Championships so I was real happy to get through in two sets. It’s pretty amazing to be back on that stage.

“I was pretty realistic. I hadn’t been past the fourth round in a few years.

“So to be at this stage, I’m just thrilled to have the opportunity to go for it.”

It was the thought of fulfilling her huge potential that kept Sharapova going during the many months on the sidelines, and she will be the hot favourite to beat first-time finalist Kvitova.

The fifth seed said: “I’m not really the type of person that ever gives up. Even though it was tough, I believed in myself. I always felt like I could be better, and that’s why I never had the interest of stopping. I always felt like I had a lot better things in me.”

Lisicki, a quarter-finalist two years ago before an ankle injury forced her to miss five months last year, was appearing in her first grand slam semi-final but it was Sharapova who started nervously and she quickly trailed 3-0.

Holding her serve after a real battle seemed to give the fifth seed the belief she needed, and she promptly levelled before breaking again for 5-4 and serving out the set with an ace.

Sharapova’s service struggles were a real feature of the match and 13 double faults certainly did not help her but the rest of her game was working very well and she blasted and shrieked her way to a 5-1 lead.

Lisicki, 21, dug in and even broke Sharapova when she served for victory, but she could not withstand a barrage of returns from the Russian in the next game and hit a forehand long on match point.

“She started really well,” said Sharapova. “The first three games she played very well and I did quite the opposite. She served a lot better and I was giving her way too many free points on my serve.

“And then I told myself to take it one point at a time and really focus. I felt like I just kind of got in my zone, remained focused and got back to 3-3. I was fortunate to win that set and then get up a couple of breaks in the second.”

Explaining her rash of double faults, the Russian added: “From the beginning I didn’t serve well. I felt like I was rushing things. She’s someone that has pretty big swings and likes to take charge and hit the ball.

“I didn’t really want to give her too many looks on second serves. I think maybe I overthought it too much. And also coming from the indoor match a couple of days ago, I felt like my toss was just all over the place today, which I’ll have to work on tomorrow.”