The third-seeded Czech will meet France's 16th seed Nathalie Tauziat in Saturday's final.

Novotna, who lost to the top-seeded Swiss in last year's final after winning the first set, started slowly, dropping the service in the second game.

She then fought off three more break points before coming back strongly to win the set and take the second by a similar margin.

Earlier, Tauziat defeated unseeded Belarussian Natasha Zvereva 1-6 7-6 6-3 to become the first Frenchwoman since Suzanne Lenglen in 1925 to reach the women's singles final.

Mahesh Bhupathi (India) partnered Croatian Mirjana Lucic to notch up a hard-fought straight set victory in the second round of the mixed doubles at the Wimbledon last night.

The Bhupathi-Lucic pair downed Karsten Braasch (Germany) and Patty Schnyder (Switzerland) 7-6 (8-6) 7-5.

Tim Henman lifted English spirits by crushing Petr Kordato become the first Briton in 25 years to claim a semi-final place in the men's singles at the Championships.

The 12th seed helped lift a nation depressed by the national side's soccer World Cup elimination at the hands of Argentina by defeating Australian Open champion and world No 3 Korda 6-3 6-4 6-2 on centre court.

``That score, no break points on my serve...I don't think I could have asked for any more,'' Henman said afterwards.

Korda was stoic in defeat: ``I gave it the best I had. I gave him some troubles but it was not enough.''

Henman, the first Briton to reach the last four since Roger Taylor in 1973, now faces world No 1 and top seed Pete Sampras.

Sampras, champion here in four of the last five years, hammered Australia's Mark Philippoussis in straight sets 7-6 6-4 6-4.

The American spoke with caution about his last-four clash.

``He (Henman) has added a lot of strength. I remember playing him four years ago and he is just so much more powerful now. It will be a good match.''

Thebottom half of the draw sees twice finalist Goran Ivanisevic meet 1996 champion and ninth seed Richard Krajicek.

Fourteenth-seeded Croat Ivanisevic needed three tie-breaks to defeat Dutchman Jan Siemerink.

Krajicek cruised into the semis with a straight sets victory over Italy's Davide Sanguinetti, ranked 65 in the world.

The Dutchman defied the effects of a knee injury to defeat the Italian. He won in straight sets , 6-2 6-3 6-4.

Results

Seedings in prefix: Women's singles (semi-finals): 3-Jana Novotna (Czech Republic) bt 1-Martina Hingis (Switzerland) 6-4 6-4, 16-Nathalie Tauziat (France) bt Natasha Zvereva (Belarus) 1-6 7-6 6-3
Men's doubles (quarter-finals): 1-Jacco Eltingh (Netherlands)/Paul Haarhuis (Netherlands) bt 10-Nicklas Kulti (Sweden)/David Macpherson (Australia) 6-4 5-7 7-6 (7-2) 6-2, 2-Todd Woodbridge (Australia)/Mark Woodforde (Australia) bt 9-Patrick Galbraith (US)/Brett Steven (New Zealand) 6-0 5-7 6-4 4-6 6-3, 12-Wayne Black (Zimbabwe)/Sebastien Lareau (Canada)bt Justin Gimelstob (US)/Brian Macphie (US) 6-4 6-4 7-6 (7-4)