Casey Dellacqua has missed out on a maiden WTA final appearance after suffering a straight-sets loss to Czech Barbora Zahlavova Strycova in Birmingham.
The Australian squandered a host of chances to take the first set before fading in a 7-6 (7-5) 6-1 loss in Saturday's semi-final at the grass court event.
Dellacqua served for the first set at 5-4 up and led 5-1 in the tiebreak before losing six straight points.
Despite the defeat, Dellacqua is set to secure a new career-high ranking on the back of her run to the last four.
She is likely to climb to 36th, surpassing her previous best ranking of world No.39, which she held back in 2008.
The 29-year-old was ranked outside the world's top 200 only last September as she struggled in her comeback from injuries.
She ousted higher-ranked compatriot Samantha Stosur in the third round in Birmingham and has emerged as arguably Australia's best female prospect at Wimbledon this year.
Unseeded Czech Zahlavova Strycova will face top seed Ana Ivanovic in Sunday's final after the Serb beat China's Zhang Shuai 6-2 6-2 in the other semi-final.
Ivanovic, a grand slam winner and seven times a season-end top 20 player, reached the first grass court final of her career.
"It would be wonderful to win a grass court title now," Ivanovic said.
"It would be a dream come true. But it's also good for Wimbledon, having some good wins."
