Djokovic outlasts Nadal in 5-set semifinal thriller

7:03 am | July 14, 2018 | Go to Source | Author:

10:52 AM ET

ESPN News Services

LONDON — Novak Djokovic will play for his fourth Wimbledon title after beating world No. 1 Rafael Nadal in a five-set semifinal match that took an extra day to complete.

In the 53rd career meeting between the two players, Djokovic, the No. 12 seed, held on for a 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 (9), 3-6, 10-8 victory Saturday on Centre Court at the All England Club.

Djokovic, who has 12 Grand Slam titles, hasn’t won a major in more than two years, dealing with an injured right elbow that was so painful in 2017 he quit his quarterfinal at Wimbledon and sat out the rest of the season. He had surgery in February.

The total match time was 5 hours, 15 minutes, making it the second-longest semifinal match in terms of duration in Wimbledon history.

Djokovic will face No. 8 seed Kevin Anderson on Sunday for the title. Anderson advanced Friday with a 7-6 (6), 6-7 (5), 6-7 (9), 6-4, 26-24 victory over John Isner — a match that took 6 hours, 36 minutes to play, a record for a Wimbledon semifinal.

Djokovic has a 5-1 edge against Anderson, including a 2-0 record against the South African at Wimbledon.

This match was quite a contrast to Friday’s battle between the hard-serving foes. Nadal and Djokovic regularly — and spectacularly — ran down shots to force long rallies, drawing gasps and cheers from the appreciative crowd.

Undaunted by losing his lead and being forced to an extra set, Djokovic saved break points at 4-all and 7-all in the fifth, before breaking Nadal at love to end things.

There was hard serving as well, as Djokovic had a career-high 23 aces. That total also was more than double the amount he’s had in any match against Nadal (11, on two occasions).

It was the first time in the Open era that both men’s semifinals went past 6-all in the deciding set of a Grand Slam event. It also was just the second time in the Open era that both men’s semifinals at Wimbledon went to five sets. The other instance was in 2001.

Play was halted Friday after 2 hours, 54 minutes, with Djokovic leading two sets to one, 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 (9). Because the match started Friday with the roof closed, it remained closed when Nadal and Djokovic took the court to resume action Saturday.

Nadal resumed the match by opening the fourth set with a 3-0 lead. Djokovic tied it up, but Nadal eventually broke Djokovic to force a deciding set.

The last men’s semifinal to be finished on Saturday was in 2007, also between Nadal and Djokovic. Djokovic retired in that match because of a toe blister.

Djokovic increased his all-time lead over Nadal to 27-25 and took a 2-1 edge in five-set matches between the two. Nadal has gotten the better of Djokovic in Grand Slam matches over the years, still holding a 9-5 edge.

He also improved to third all-time with his 13th career victory against a player ranked No. 1 since the world rankings were introduced in 1973. Nadal and Boris Becker are tied for first with 19.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.