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Ash Barty has become Australia's first woman finalist at Wimbledon in 41 years after beating former champion Angelique Kerber 6-3 7-6 (7-3) in the last four.

After 41 long years, Australia has another Wimbledon women's singles finalist to savour after Ash Barty produced the performance of her life to defeat former champion Angelique Kerber in the last four.

Living up to her world No.1 billing, the Queenslander reckoned she'd never played such a fine match after prevailing 6-3 7-6 (7-3) in what she called her "ultimate test" on Thursday against the rejuvenated three-time grand slam winner on Centre Court.

In truth, that ultimate test is yet to come on Saturday when Barty will tackle another former world No.1 Karolina Pliskova, the tall, big-serving Czech who blitzed 14 aces as she tamed second seed Aryna Sabalenka 5-7 6-4 6-4 in the other power-packed semi-final.

"She has the power and ability to quickly take the match away from you," acknowledged Barty, who holds a 5-2 career advantage over the Czech.

Yet the first Australian women's finalist since her idol and mentor, Evonne Goolagong Cawley, who won the title in 1971 and 1980, simply smiled: "Being able to play on the final Saturday at Wimbledon is gonna be just the best experience ever!"

This can't have been far behind, though, for the popular figure from Ipswich as she became Australia's first singles finalist - man or woman - at the All England Club since Mark Philippoussis lost to Roger Federer in 2003.

And if she produces this quality in the final, having crashed down eight aces and 38 winners, including 18 whipped from her glorious forehand, the 25-year-old is in good shape to become the nation's third champion in the Open era after Margaret Court and Goolagong Cawley.

Even Sabalenka, who was overpowered by Pliskova, noted after being asked for a prediction about the final by AAP: "It's tough to say. Everything can happen. But I think Barty have good chance to win."

It was the highest quality women's match in the tournament, with Barty declaring to Centre Court: "This is incredible. This is as good as a tennis match as I'll ever play.

"I'm incredibly proud of myself and my team and now we get a chance on Saturday to live out a childhood dream."

Back on Centre Court where she's bloomed, first slowly and then majestically, into the tournament, Barty played her sharpest set of the fortnight in the opener before withstanding the sort of inspirational form from Kerber that took the German to the 2018 title.

Kerber's 33 now and has plummeted to No.28 in the rankings but she won a pre-Wimbledon tournament in Bad Homburg and has been completely re-energised back at her happy hunting ground.

So Barty really did have to produce some supreme tennis to fight back from 5-2 down in the second set and prevail after playing an immaculate tiebreak to move into her second grand slam final after one hour 27 minutes.

She played so well and moved so sweetly that it was hard to imagine, as she revealed afterwards, how close she'd been to having to pull out before Wimbledon because of her hip injury.

Having dictated in the opening set, Barty suddenly found herself on the retreat at the start of the second as Kerber reprised some of the glorious tennis that had blown Serena Williams away in the final three years ago as she broke to race to a 3-0 lead.

"Angie is an incredible competitor. She brought out the best in me," reckoned Barty."

"I fought and scrapped when I had to, controlled the ball when I had to. That match was a great level, the best level I've played in quite some time."

Serving for the set, Kerber faltered, with Barty cashing in to earn a break to love with a scintillating cross-court forehand.

Then she took control, winning 10 straight points as she powered into a 6-0 lead in the tiebreak, with the help of two more killer forehands and an ace.

Kerber could only delay the inevitable, courageously saving three match points before finally netting a backhand as Barty celebrated becoming only the fourth Aussie women's finalist in the Open era after Court, Judy Tegart and Goolagong.

"I was trying to play my game but she had always a good answer," sighed Kerber.

"Her game suits to grass court really well. She played great in important moments. You could see why she's the world No.1 right now."