Novak Djokovic defeated Juan-Martin Del Potro in a thrilling encounter in Wimbledon semi-final on Friday.
The world number one needed four hours and 44 minutes to put paid to 2009 US Open champion’s ambition of a Wimbledon final.
The Serb and eighth seed Del Potro exchanged the first two sets before Djokovic won a brutal third.
But Del Potro, who had aggravated a knee injury in his quarter-final match, hit back in the fourth-set tie-break to force a deciding set, which Djokovic won to secure a 7-5, 4-6, 7-6 (7-2), 6-7 (6-8), 6-3 victory.
The match was the longest men’s semi-final in Wimbledon history.
Djokovic, 26, will play either Britain’s Andy Murray or Pole Jerzy Janowicz in Sunday’s final.
“It was one of the best matches I’ve been a part of,” Said Serb Djokovic, who won 2011 Wimbledon title.
“That’s why he’s a Grand Slam champion. He came up with some top shots, credit to him.”
It was Djokovic’s 13th consecutive Grand Slam semi-final and he’s bidding for his seventh major title.
