The 16-year-old blonde, dubbed the new Anna Kournikova, kept the photographers busy as she walked on court with a determined look at the Edgbaston Priory Club but eventually ran out of steam against her Japanese opponent.

Asagoe will face third seed Magdalena Maleeva in the final.

"I will take away a lot of experience from this and a lot of confidence from beating some top names," said Sharapova, who claimed the scalps of top seed Elena Dementieva and Nathalie Dechy on her way to the last four.

"There are a lot of things I learned here and there about my game."

Playing her first WTA semi-final, Sharapova got off to a flying start as Asagoe struggled to control the Russian's powerful groundstrokes and easily claimed the first set.

But the unseeded Asagoe came charging back in the second.

With both players failing to gain the upper hand in the deciding set, the contest headed into a tiebreak, where two wild forehands from Sharapova proved to be her undoing.

"I needed a little more energy at the end," said Sharapova, who was given a wildcard for Wimbledon earlier this week.

Bulgarian Maleeva battled past second seed Eleni Daniilidou of Greece 6-3, 5-7, 6-4 in the other semifinal

Daniilidou established a 3-0 lead in the third set after winning nine games out of 10 but caved in as Maleeva displayed her fighting qualities.

"I've been playing tennis long enough to know that it's never ever over till it's over," said a delighted Maleeva.