Iga Swiatek has defied her own expectations to reach the Wimbledon final, demolishing Belinda Bencic 6-2, 6-0 in just 72 minutes in Friday's semi-final.
The Polish player admitted she has "surprised herself" with her grass court form following a difficult clay court season.
"Honestly I never even dreamt it was going to be possible for me to play in the final," Swiatek said. "I thought I experienced everything on the court but I didn't experience playing well on grass.
"I feel confident and I'm just going for it. For sure it's working."
Iga Swiatek is looking for her sixth Grand Slam and first Wimbledon title
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When asked if she had surprised herself, the world No 4 said: "I did. Yeah, for sure."
The 24-year-old's failure to win the French Open for the first time since 2021 proved fortuitous, allowing extra preparation time on grass.
"Every year it's kind of the same, but I feel sometimes I can handle it better or ignore it," she said. "I think it's easier if you haven't won Roland Garros and also if you had more time to practice."
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The Polish player admitted that she has "surprised" herself at Wimbledon this year
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A run to the Bad Homburg final immediately before Wimbledon sparked her resurgence.
Now one victory away from her first senior Wimbledon title, Swiatek could match Carlos Alcaraz by claiming major trophies on every surface.
Standing in her way is Amanda Anisimova, who stunned world number one Aryna Sabalenka 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 to reach her first Grand Slam final.
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The American's achievement is particularly remarkable given she took an eight-month break from tennis to prioritise her mental health just two years ago.
"To be honest if you told me then I'd be in the final at Wimbledon I would not believe you," Anisimova said. "To be in this spot is not easy. To be in the final is indescribable."
The 23-year-old struggled with the demands of professional tennis and grief following her father's death before stepping away from the sport.
Her return has been marked by impressive performances, with this week's run set to propel her into the world's top seven.
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Iga Swiatek faces Amanda Anisimova for the first time in her professional career
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The two finalists share history dating back nine years to a junior encounter in Budapest.
As 15-year-olds, they faced off at the Hungarian national tennis centre during the Junior Fed Cup, with Swiatek defeating Anisimova 6-4, 6-2 in front of sparse crowds.
Their careers diverged significantly after that meeting: Anisimova initially surged ahead, winning the 2017 junior US Open and reaching the French Open semi-finals in 2019, while Swiatek steadily climbed to become a five-time Grand Slam champion.
Despite being born just three months apart, Saturday's final will mark their first professional meeting.
Swiatek brings a formidable record of 5-0 in Grand Slam finals and 16-2 in major finals overall, matches that have rarely been competitive.
Anisimova's game could pose problems for the Pole, with her devastating shot-making, early ball-striking and ability to flatten second serves match the profile of opponents who have troubled Swiatek on faster surfaces.
"Iga is such an unbelievable player. She's also been an inspiration to me," Anisimova said. "Her work ethic and all of her achievements have been really inspiring."
The American promised to "bring some high-quality tennis and make it a battle out there," whilst acknowledging she would "try to not think about what's on the line."