Meanwhile Djokovic was a little less flashy but no less effective. He has clearly reached the point where he has total faith in his body again, after the elbow struggles that afflicted him last year. You could tell that from the first game, as he leapt into a lassoo forehand from the school of Nadal with total freedom and fluidity. Djokovic’s backhand, meanwhile, was in a class of its own. To avoid being pushed back by Nadal, you have to be able to take his viciously loaded forehand on the rise, even when he fires it deep into your backhand wing, and Djokovic is the master here. There was no doubt who had fought out the tougher quarter-final. Nadal had required 4hr 48min to subdue Juan Martin del Potro in a match that Andy Murray, commentating for the BBC, described as the best he had ever seen live. This probably explains why Nadal didn’t quite find his all-court press in the first set. He looked like a man working his way up to optimal operating temperature, and he left too many short balls for Djokovic to feast on with flat, driven groundstrokes into the corners. But just as Nadal found solutions against del Potro on Wednesday – when he came forward and used his volleys and drop-shots to break up the violence of the baseline exchanges – so he came up with an answer last night. This time it was his forehand down the line, which he hits with both feet pointing straight up the court in defiance of the coaching textbook. Time after time, he threaded the ball over the high part of the net for a winner. The third-set tie-break was a ripper, as both men did all they could to avoid the nightmarish prospect of a night spent sleeping on a one-set deficit. The drop shots flowed from both ends now, creating the sort of variety that Anderson and Isner, for all their qualities, could only dream of. But it was that Djokovic backhand that claimed the final point of the evening, as he drew a forced error from Nadal with a ball speared up the line.<doc-sep>Last updated on .From the section Tennis Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal last met at a Grand Slam in the 2015 French Open quarter-finals Wimbledon 2018 on the BBC Venue: All England Club, Wimbledon Dates: 2-15 July Coverage: Watch live on BBC TV, BBC iPlayer, BBC Red Button, Connected TVs and the BBC Sport website and app; Live Radio 5 live and 5 live sports extra commentary; Text commentary online. Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic have met more than any other two men in the Open era - and the pair are ready to finally resume their long-standing rivalry on the Grand Slam stage. Nadal, 32, and Djokovic, 31, meet in a highly anticipated Wimbledon semi-final later on Friday. They have faced each other 51 times, but not as deep into a Slam since the 2014 French Open final. The winner will play either John Isner or Kevin Anderson in Sunday's final. Spain's Nadal and Serbia's Djokovic have won 29 Grand Slam titles between them, including five previous victories at SW19. The pair have only met twice at Wimbledon, Nadal winning their 2007 semi-final when Djokovic retired hurt, the Serb gaining revenge in the 2011 final. "There is no one other match in the history of tennis that has been played more than our match. That's a big thing," said second seed Nadal. "We always played in important stages, important places." The most enduring rivalry While Nadal's rivalry with Roger Federer may be considered as the most engaging, it is the Spaniard's rivalry with Djokovic which is the most enduring. The pair have produced some of the greatest matches ever seen - which include memorable Grand Slam finals and career-defining victories. They have met in: 7 Grand Slam finals 4 Grand Slam semi-finals 17 other tour-level finals 13 other tour-level semi-finals 1 Olympic semi-final Djokovic leads 26-25 in their head-to-head, dominating in recent times with seven victories in the past nine matches. "It is always a big challenge facing Novak," said Nadal. "He is one of the more complex players that I ever saw in our sport. It is always a big test. "You know that you can't win against him if you don't play very well." How Djokovic reached the semi-finals Djokovic came into the Championships on the back of a frustrating year which was blighted by an elbow injury and saw him slide down the world rankings as a result. He showed signs of recovering at the French Open before a shock loss in the quarter-finals against unseeded Italian Marco Cecchinato, then reached the Queen's final where more mental fragility proved his undoing against Marin Cilic. However, the 12th seed has looked focused and close to his best form on his way to reaching a first Slam semi-final since the 2016 US Open. "I'm really not thinking about being an underdog or being a favourite," he said. "I just try to build the momentum. Obviously I've been very pleased with the way I've played so far on the grass court season." How Nadal reached the semi-finals After a hectic clay-court season where he won the Monte Carlo, Rome and French Open titles, Nadal decided to go into Wimbledon without playing a warm-up event on grass for the second year running. The Majorcan, who is the world number one but seeded second at Wimbledon, looked refreshed as he breezed through his opening four matches without dropping a set. None of his opening four opponents were ranked inside the world top 50, meaning he faced a huge jump in class against world number four Juan Martin del Potro in Wednesday's semi-final. Nadal was two sets to one down before fighting back to win in five sets - and almost five hours - to reach his first SW19 semi-final since 2011. Three of the best Nadal-Djokovic matches 1. Australian Open final - January 2012 Djokovic wins 5-7 6-4 6-2 6-7 (5-7) 7-5 A match which has gone down in the record books as the longest Grand Slam final, lasting five hours and 53 minutes - and finishing at 1.37am - before Djokovic prevailed. 2. French Open semi-final - May 2013 Nadal wins 6-4 3-6 6-1 6-7 (3-7) 9-7 After seven weeks out with a serious knee injury, many doubted if Nadal would regain his crown as the 'King of Clay'. Playing Djokovic was the sternest test and he came through a dramatic five-setter dubbed the greatest clay-court match of all-time by Bjorn Borg and John McEnroe. 3. Madrid Open semi-final - May 2009 Nadal wins 3-6 7-6 (7-5) 7-6 (11-9) Djokovic came close to beating Nadal for the first time on clay, only to see the Spaniard save three match points before winning one of the greatest and - at four hours and two minutes - longest three-set matches in history. Anderson or Isner to reach first SW19 final? While Nadal and Djokovic are old hands at winning Slams, the man stood on the opposite side of the net in Sunday's final will be bidding to win a first major. South African eighth seed Anderson, 32, has reached a major final before, losing to Nadal in last year's US Open showpiece. He reached a first Wimbledon semi-final by beating eight-time champion Roger Federer on Wednesday, fighting back from two sets down to earn the biggest win of his career. "I said at the beginning of the tournament, getting through to the quarters was a big goal of mine," he said. "But also putting myself in these positions where hopefully I'm able to get another step forward and be playing on Sunday." Isner, 33, will be playing in his first major semi-final and is bidding to become the first American man to reach a Slam final since Andy Roddick finished Wimbledon runner-up in 2009. "I'm very, very happy to be in this position right now," said the ninth seed, who has never played on Centre Court at Wimbledon - although he did so against Federer at the 2012 Olympics. "With how I'm feeling physically and mentally, I'm in a very good spot. I think I can keep doing damage here."<doc-sep>Rafael Nadal. (AFP Photo) Key Highlights Nadal and Djokovic prepare to clash for the 52nd time on Friday with a Wimbledon final spot at stake Nadal trails Djokovic 26-25 in a rivalry which began at Roland Garros 12 years ago Nadal is chasing an 18th Grand Slam title which would put him just two behind Roger Federer LONDON: Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic are not quite opposites in craft, but as personalities they are poles apart. Sugar and salt. It is precisely this difference, this variation in function that gives their rivalry an edge, perhaps taking it a notch above that much-celebrated tango between the Spaniard and Swiss Roger Federer . Nadal, the world No.1, and Djokovic, seeded 12, will meet for the 52nd time in a go-for-broke Wimbledon semifinals on Friday, in a clash which despite the rankings has no clear favourite. The other last-four match will be a giant affair with South African Kevin Anderson, seeded 8, playing the No.9-seed John Isner. But it is the match-up from the bottom-half of the men's singles draw that has fans agog. The Serb leads the head-to-head 26-25 despite the Spaniard winning their last two meetings at a time when the 31-year-old was battling physical issues and a confidence crisis. Nadal needs no reminder of the stranglehold Djokovic had in a two-year stretch (2015-16), when he won seven successive matches against him, three of which came on clay. Asked to comment on their rivalry the Spaniard went back to their titanic Melbourne meeting of six years ago, in the final of the Australian Open where they ran each other ragged for nearly six-hours in the longest Grand Slam final. "There is no one other (final) match in the history of tennis that was played for more than our match. That's a big thing. We always played in important stages, important places," Nadal, a two-time champion here, said, "Friday is another important match against an opponent that is one of the most difficult ones that you can face." Nadal, a 17-time major winner, who won here in 2008 and 10, is the in-form player, having won Roland Garros for the 11th time. He underlined that in fading light on Wednesday, when he put out fifth-seeded Juan Martin Del Potro in five sets, but in his own words, the Serb is the big test. "Always is a big challenge to face Novak. Is one of the more complex players that I ever saw in our sport," Nadal said before shifting the focus on himself. "I did a lot of things well since I'm back from injury. I only lost one match. I know that semifinals is one of these matches that anything could happen. I know if you don't play very well, you will not have the chance to win." Djokovic, ranked 21 in the world, has been picking up shattered pieces of body, mind and game in an 18-month scramble when he looked a shadow of the champion he was. The three-time winner here, however, appears to be on his way back. In a major semifinal for the first time since he made the US Open final in 2016 Djokovic said he was 'pretty close' to his dominating best, but was looking for more. "It's kind of hard to copy anything, right? I don't like that. I usually like to create something. As everything in life, we are evolving. I'm a different person, different player today," the father of two said. "I like the level of tennis that I'm playing right now. I think with the performances I've had, I deserve to be in the semifinals. I don't want to stop here, I hope I can get a chance to fight for a trophy." MEN'S SEMIS LINE-UP: Kevin Anderson (8th-seed, RSA) vs John Isner (9th-seed, USA); Novak Djokovic (12th-seed, SRB) vs Rafael Nadal (2th -seed, ESP).<doc-sep>When you subscribe we will use the information you provide to send you these newsletters. Sometimes they'll include recommendations for other related newsletters or services we offer. Our Privacy Notice explains more about how we use your data, and your rights. You can unsubscribe at any time. The Serbian has rediscovered his mojo at SW19 and has looked more alike the former world No 1 who once held all four Grand Slam titles at one time in 2016. He saw off Kei Nishikori in the quarter-finals with a vintage performance for his first semi-final of any Grand Slam since the 2016 US Open, which he won. There, he will face world No 1 Rafael Nadal after he overcame an exhaustive five-set clash with Juan Martin del Potro to reach his first Wimbledon semi in seven years. The Spaniard and Djokovic will be viewed as the two favourites to go all the way following reigning champion Roger Federer’s shock exit to Kevin Anderson. And Djokovic has sent out a warning to Nadal that he in his best form in over 12 months as the two prepare to go head-to-head for the first time on grass since the 2011 Wimbledon final.<doc-sep>
RAFAEL Nadal described long-time rival Novak Djokovic as “one of the more complex” players he’s ever met as they prepare to clash for the 52nd time — more than any other two men have ever played each other — on Saturday (AEST) with a Wimbledon final spot at stake. World number one Nadal, the 2008 and 2010 champion at the All England Club, trails Djokovic, the 2011, 2014 and 2015 winner, 26-25 in a rivalry which began at Roland Garros 12 years ago. Along the way, they have fought out a series of classic and epic battles including Djokovic’s 5-7, 6-4, 6-2, 6-7 (5/7), 7-5 Australian Open final victory in 2012. ORDER OF PLAY (from 10pm AEST) Kevin Anderson (8) v John Isner (9) Novak Djokovic (12) v Rafael Nadal (2) At five hours and 53 minutes, it was the longest final ever at a Slam. The following year, Nadal downed the Serb, who was world number one at the time, 6-4, 3-6, 6-1, 6-7, 9-7 in the semi-finals in Paris, this time in four hours and 37 minutes. “It’s always a big challenge to face Novak,” said 32-year-old Nadal who is back in the semi-finals at Wimbledon for the first time since 2011 when he finished runner-up to Djokovic. “He is one of the more complex players that I ever saw in our sport. You know that you can’t win against him if you don’t play very well.” Nadal is chasing an 18th Grand Slam title which would put him just two behind Roger Federer who was sensationally knocked out in the quarter-finals by Kevin Anderson. For his part, Djokovic is eyeing a 13th major after making the semi-finals of a Slam for the first time since finishing runner-up at the 2016 US Open. This time last year, few would have expected to see either man back in the last-four at the All England Club. Nadal was knocked out in the fourth round, losing 13-11 in the final set to Luxembourg journeyman Gilles Muller. On four of his previous five visits to south-west London, he had been defeated by players outside the top 100. Djokovic’s 2017 Wimbledon campaign ended in a quarter-final retirement with an elbow injury which led to surgery and precipitated a worrying dip in form and confidence. When he lost in the French Open quarter-finals to world number 72 Marco Cecchinato last month, he even suggested he was ready to skip Wimbledon this year as his ranking slipped to 22, his lowest since August 2006. But the 31-year-old has been rejuvenated at Wimbledon, sweeping into the semi-finals for the eighth time.