Spain's Carlos Alcaraz will renew his rivalry with tennis legend Novak Djokovic in the 2024 Wimbledon men's singles final on Sunday.
Twelve months ago the pair produced one of the greatest matches in Centre Court history, a rollercoaster ride that finished with rising star Alcaraz claiming victory after five thrilling sets against the all-time leading Grand Slam winner.
On Sunday, Alcaraz will look to retain his crown and win his second Wimbledon title. Djokovic will go for his eighth. If he pulls it off, at 37, he will be the oldest champion of the modern era and equal Roger Federer's record tally of titles.
With Alcaraz having clinched his place in the final with a four-set 6-7, 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 victory over Daniil Medvedev in the earlier semi-final on Friday, Djokovic, who has been in prickly mood all week in London, made a statement of intent by dispatching Italy's Lorenzo Musetti in straight sets 6-4, 7-6, 6-4 on Centre Court.
The Serb, who mimicked playing a violin to a chorus of boos after the match, said in his on-court interview: "Wimbledon has been a childhood dream for me to play it and to win it. It is worth repeating I was a seven-year-old boy watching the bombs fly over my head and dreaming of being on the most important court in the world which is here in Wimbledon.
"I was constructing Wimbledon trophies out of any material in the room! I have the tremendous support from my family and my wife has been with me for many years and my children too – it has been an incredible journey.
"I try not to take it for granted every time I find myself on this unique court. Obviously during the match it is business time and trying to do your work and I try out play my opponent. I am satisfied and pleased, but I don’t want to stop here – hopefully I get my hands on the trophy."
On playing Alcaraz, he added: "He's as complete of a player as they come. He's one of the greatest 21-year-olds we've ever seen in this sport."
Djokovic, who played in his first Wimbledon semi-final in 2007 when Musetti was just five, had the luxury of three days off to rest the knee he had surgery on last month, after quarter-final opponent Alex De Minaur pulled out injured.
The 24-time Grand Slam champion clinched the first break of the match for 4-2 and turned to wave his arms at the crowd, asking for more noise. They duly obliged, but the response was nothing compared to the roar which met 22-year-old Musetti breaking back as Djokovic served for the opening set.
However, when Musetti tried one drop-shot too many and watched it land apologetically into the net, Djokovic eased a set in front. The Italian hit back after a Djokovic double fault afforded him two break points, the second of which he converted with a swish of that backhand.
But Djokovic hauled himself back on serve to love, wriggled out of a spot of bother at 5-5, 15-30 with three aces and whizzed through the tie-break – only briefly pausing to applaud a stunning round-the-net Musetti winner – for a two-set lead.
A break at the start of the third, sealed with a backhand cross-court winner, extinguished any fire Musetti had left in him as Djokovic eased into his 10th Wimbledon final.
Earlier in the day, Alcaraz reached his fourth Grand Slam final when he recovered from a set down to defeat Medvedev.
"Obviously it will be a really difficult match. Let's see who I am going to play on Sunday," said Alcaraz who crunched 55 winners to the 31 from Medvedev.
"I feel like I am not new anymore. I know how I am going to feel before the final. I have been in this position before."
He added: "I started really nervous today. Daniil was dominating the match, playing great tennis. It was difficult for me."
Twice Medvedev, beaten by the Spaniard at the same stage last year, led with breaks in the first set only to be pinned back.
Such was his frustration that he was handed a warning for unsportsmanlike conduct by umpire Eva Asderaki for an apparent foul-mouthed reaction to a ball called for bouncing twice as he was broken in the ninth game.
The tournament referee and supervisor were even summoned to Centre Court by Asderaki, but Medvedev shrugged off the incident to sweep through the tie-break and take the opening set in which he committed only eight unforced errors to the Spaniard's 15.
It was the third time at this year's Wimbledon that Alcaraz had dropped the first set. Alcaraz recovered impressively, breaking Medvedev for a 3-1 lead in the second, having come out on top in the previous game on the back of a 27-shot rally.
The 21-year-old then hit 14 winners in the third set, pocketing the only break in the third game.
Medvedev, who had knocked out world number one Jannik Sinner in the quarter-finals, retrieved a break early in the fourth set. But Alcaraz kept up his assault, edging ahead again for 4-3 on his way to victory.
