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"I am very happy," she said. "I didn''''t play my best tennis today.

"I made a lot of mistakes, especially at the beginning of the second set, but I kept fighting each point and improving, and by the end of the second set, I was playing well."

After rain delayed the start by an hour, Wickmayer was immediately on the offensive, breaking her opponent''''''''s serve in the third game of the opening set, holding to love and breaking again for a 4-1 lead.

Peer, showing the doggedness that has seen her overcome opponents on and off the court all week, reclaimed one of those breaks before losing the set, then secured an early break in the second.

"I was only one break down, but she was playing better and had stepped up a level," said Wickmayer. "I knew I had to come back, so just kept fighting.

"I was still making mistakes, but the points were getting closer."

Double faults at crucial times also proved a major weakness for Peer, who served six for the match. Wickmayer (20), the third seed, took advantage of her fourth and a lucky net cord to break back to 2-3, then rode a questionable line call to the crucial break at 5-5.

The result was especially gratifying given her offcourt battle with drug-testing authorities, who tried to suspend her for a year after she failed to notify them of her whereabouts.

"It has been a really tough time for me, but I have been mentally strong on the court until now." 

She now progresses to face the winner of the second semifinal between Italians Flavia Pennetta and Francesca Schiavone. Wickmayer has a combined 3-0 record against the more experienced pair.