Simona Halep believes she is playing her best tennis since winning Wimbledon in 2019 after returning to the All England Club semi-finals.
The former world number one is enjoying her first SW19 campaign since that triumph three years ago, with the coronavirus pandemic and a calf injury delaying her return.
The final in 2019 was Halep's fifth at a major, but she has not been back to that stage since.
Now, having swatted aside Amanda Anisimova 6-2 6-4 in the last eight for a 12th consecutive victory at Wimbledon – the longest sequence since 20 straight Serena Williams successes between 2015 and 2018 – she is just one win away.
Halep explained after the Anisimova match that confidence was key, having proven her game was back at a high level in reaching six semi-finals in 2022 – second only to Iga Swiatek (eight) on the WTA Tour.
Three of those last-four appearances have now been on grass, with Johanna Konta in 2017 the last player to achieve that feat in a calendar year.
"Definitely I've played the best tennis [since 2019]," Halep said in her on-court interview. "I struggled a lot last year; now, I'm just trying to build my confidence back.
"The tennis is here, so I just have to believe. I've started to do that, and it feels good."
Asked how high her confidence was now, she replied with a smile: "It's good."
Halep has reached the last four without dropping a set, although that spotless record was briefly threatened by Anisimova, who was a double break down in the second set before breaking back and then leading 40-0 on the Romanian's serve.
Yet Halep dug in to serve out the match and avoid a decider against an opponent with a Tour-leading 12 three-set wins this season.
"I'm very emotional right now, because it means a lot to be back in the semis," Halep said.
"I played a tough opponent today; she could crash the ball in the end, and I didn't know actually what to do.
"But I just believed in myself and said that I had to stay there, strong on my legs – they helped me today – and I believed until the end that I could win."