BOGOTA, Colombia - Anna Karolina Schmiedlova is through to her first WTA final since July 2015 after knocking out No.7 seed Ana Bogdan at the Claro Open Colsanitas.

After weathering a week of rain delays and schedule changes, Schmiedlova found her vintage form to see off Bodgan 6-3, 6-2 in just under an hour and 30 minutes. Even sweeter, the victory means No.132-ranked Schmiedlova will have a chance to return to the WTA’s Top 100 for the first time since 2016.

Read more: Schmiedlova slides into semis in Bogota over injured Arango

“It wasn’t an easy match. I was really nervous, especially at the end of the match, because I felt pressure,” Schmiedlova admitted in press afterward. “I mean, I won a WTA match after a year and a half, I haven’t played semifinals in a really long time. I was really happy, but I also wanted to win really, really bad.

“I knew this win would help me, it’s a lot of points and I could get back to Top 100. It was really big pressure, but I’m really glad and happy that I made it in the end. I think I played well.”

The resurgent Schmiedlova made her way into her first semifinal since September 2015 after Colombian teenager Emiliana Arango was forced to retire in the second set. In fact, she came into the Claro Open Colsanitas having not won a WTA main draw match since October 2016.

Her opponent Bogdan came into the matchup having reached back-to-back WTA semifinals for the first time in her career after last week’s Monterrey run. She dismissed Chilean qualifier Daniela Seguel in straight sets on Friday hours after completing her second round match against Anna Blinkova, courtesy of Bogota’s rain delayed schedule.

The pair stayed toe to toe for much of the opening exchanges - they traded breaks twice, with Schmiedlova recovering from an early deficit and later Bogdan erasing the Slovak’s 3-1 lead. Schmiedlova finally broke through late in the first set, getting ahead 5-3 and serving it out with confidence as Bodgan’s frustrations begin to mount.

The second set was a more decidedly one-sided affair; Schmiedlova broke twice to reel off four games in a row and start off with a 4-0 lead. Bogdan managed to get on the scoreboard and hold her serve, but couldn’t find inroads on the Schmiedlova serve as the Slovak served out the match after an hour and 28 minutes.

“I played in Bogota one time before, I lost in first round,” she said. “This time when I came here I prepared longer for the altitude and everything, and I’m really happy to be playing on clay again.

“I felt good on court since I came here. I just fought for every point, and I guess I broke the bad streak of my tennis. I think the final is going to be a good match. I’m looking forward to it.”

Schmiedlova awaits the winner between Lara Arruabarrena and Dalila Jakupovic in the second semifinal as she seeks to win her third WTA title in Bogota.