Novak Djokovic will face Kevin Anderson in the men’s singles final at Wimbledon after edging past Rafael Nadal in an epic semi-final encounter.
The Serbian, who last played in a final at SW19 in 2015, came through with a 6-4 3-6 7-6 (11/9) 3-6 10-8 win.
Djokovic was two sets to one up at the close of play on Friday night but Nadal came roaring back at the start of play on Saturday – winning the fourth set to level the tie.
The Spaniard, serving for the set, faced three break back points but clawed them back and won the game with an ace, which was called out but on review had kissed the line.
The deciding set was fast approaching Kevin Anderson and John Isner territory when, at 9-8, Nadal’s level dropped.
Djokovic forced three match points and converted the first when an exhausted Nadal hit a forehand long.
The match was the second longest semi-final in Wimbledon history at five hours and 17 minutes, still an hour and 20 minutes shy of Friday’s marathon which Anderson won.
He explained it was a “very special” victory, saying:
“It really could have gone either way. It was very clear that very few things separated the two players and until the last shot I didn’t know if I was going to win. I believed it but I knew that he was very, very close and he had some chances. This kind of match you live for, you work for.”
