Kerber ends Lisicki's challenge in Wimbledon

Angelique Kerber reached the Wimbledon semifinals for the first time by taking the final four games to edge Sabine Lisicki 6-3, 6-7 (7), 7-5 on Tuesday.

It was the first Grand Slam quarterfinal between two German women since Steffi Graf beat Claudia Kohde-Kilsch at the 1989 Australian Open.

The eighth-seeded Kerber, also a semifinalist at last year's U.S. Open, wasted three match points in the second set against the 15th-seeded Lisicki. Kerber then fell behind in the third set, but broke when Lisicki served for the match at 5-3, and broke again at 5-5.

In the final game, Lisicki saved a fourth match point, before Kerber converted her fifth under the closed roof at Centre Court.

Kerber improved to 16-1 in three-set matches this season.