(AP) – It was the kind of tennis that Wimbledon’s Centre Court crowd would gladly have watched all night long.
The show being put on by Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal was so good it could have been an instant classic had they been able to finish their semifinal before the tournament’s 11 p.m. curfew.
Instead, the two players — and a disappointed audience — were sent home after the third set on Friday with Djokovic leading 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 (9) following a tense tiebreaker that had more entertaining rallies than some entire matches.
The two players didn’t even get onto the court until after 8 p.m. because of an earlier marathon semifinal won by Kevin Anderson and when Djokovic converted his second set point in the tiebreaker — having saved three of Nadal’s — the clock had ticked a couple of minutes past 11. That left organizers no choice but to call it a night, although the announcement from the chair umpire led to a scattering of boos from some fans who clearly wanted more.
Most of them will have to watch the rest on TV.
The match will resume at 1 p.m. local time on Saturday, before the women’s final between Serena Williams and Angelique Kerber. At stake is a place in Sunday’s men’s final against the man who was partly at fault for keeping Nadal and Djokovic out there so late. Anderson’s win over John Isner lasted 6 ½ hours and went to 26-24 in the fifth set.
Djokovic-Nadal had clearly been the headline act of the day — they have five Wimbledon titles between them and met in the 2011 final while Anderson and Isner had never made the semifinals before — and their tennis was at another level from the earlier match. Even Anderson said he could feel during his match that the crowd would rather be watching the next one.
“They’ve paid to see two matches, and they came pretty close to only seeing one match,” Anderson said. “I can feel the crowd (get) pretty antsy for us to get off the court. They’ve been watching us for over six hours.”
While Anderson-Isner was mostly a serving duel with a few longer rallies thrown in, Djokovic and Nadal repeatedly slugged it out from the baseline, chasing each other around the court and coming up with spectacular winners from every corner.
Many of the best points came in the tiebreaker, including a 23-shot rally that Nadal finished off with a forehand half-volley drop shot to set up his first set point.
It was one of three successful drop shots from the Spaniard in the tiebreaker alone, but Djokovic answered with one of his own to save the second set point at 7-6.
He eventually went up 10-9 with the help of a backhand passing shot and an errant shot into the net by Nadal brought the entertainment to an end — for now.
It led to the unusual situation of both players leaving the court to a huge ovation — and applauding the fans in return — but without there being a clear winner or loser.
Source: AP
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Butterfly of luck 🦋🍀😉😃
Let’s hope so Rafantastic
Come on Rafa, it’s quite obvious who the crowd want to win , feed off it
WI………….WI…………WI……..& VAMOS SWEETHEART!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL OUT THERE AND WE LOVE HOW YOUR POWERFUL DETERMINATION IS ON SUCH FORCE……..BRILLIANT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) CI……….CI………CI………SENIOR CHAMP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) KEEP GOING SWEETHEART PLAYING JUST THE WAY YOU DO……..BEAUTIFULLY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) WE LOVE YOUR POWERFUL RETURNS AND YOUR BEAUTIFUL SERVE AND YOUR CLASSY ONE OF A KIND SPECIALTY YOUR BRILLIANT FH AND BH SO WELL AIMED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) ENJOY YOUR BLESSED ENDURANCE AND KEEP HIM RUNNING AND SWEATING……….. GO RAFA GO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) VAMOS SWEETHEART!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX
Whatever happens in this 5th set, I am so proud of Rafa for the 4th. He showed his true champion colours there. Vamos forever.
Rafa you are brilliant , you don’t need to have a tantrum on court, leave that to Novak who’s 31 going on 3, looks like he’s been taking lessons from his son Stefan( good role model Novak,)
YES RAFA WAY TO GO!! 🎾💪🏼😃❤️
Now take home the match 🤗🍀🤞🏻😘
VAMOOS CHAMP #1! 😍☀️
Into a decider and hopefully rafa is on a roll
fifth set nadal should fight for his life in order to get the wimbeldon final. If ultimatly djokovic win then congratulations novak
I agree; they are both playing fantastically. May the best man win. I am still so proud of Rafa for that 4th set.
Relieved! But still a mountain to climb. Vamos Rafa💪
I’m getting fed up of Andrew Castle & Boris talking. Shut the – – – – up!
lol
Ugh me too! Bring back Tim and Andy!
WHAT’S WITH NOVAK’S WIDE OPEN STARING EYES……LOOKS TOTALLY OUT AND UNDER SOME SORT OF TRANCE…….
GO RAFA GO…….PRECIOUS POINT BY POINT MAGIC !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXXOXOXO
Djoker wears contact lenses
Maybe he’s lost his marbles Lol
Oh do be careful novak – we wouldn’t want you to break a leg. Hit yourself a little softer next time
His true colors always show when he’s against the ropes.
Rafa you are number 1 in the world. Show Novak who is boss
Oh Rafa, why do you toy with us so? So you enjoy the suffering? Leave us out of it okay:) 🙂
Stay strong champ, and clean up your UEs!
Cmon rafa – take him down!!
Can’t bear to watch!
Cmon Rafa you can do it. U don’t want a repeat of 2011.
Please cmon attack!!!!!!
Yeah me too!
I know how you feel Rafa fan 1 , I feel like I’m going to be sick or have a panic attack
Rafa needs to capitaluse more on Novak’s second serve and he MUST get more length on his own ground shots.
MAGICAL NET STAR – RAFA NADAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) VAMOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) YOU LOOK SO GORGEOUS IN ALL WHITE AND PLAYING CLASSY TENNIS BEYOND WORDS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) IT IS ALL OK……KEEP GOING…..NEVER MIND THE SCORE……… LOVE YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOOXOX YOU WILL GET ANOTHER CHANCE TO BREAK HIM! : ) WI………WI………WI……… MIXING AND SENDING HIM SIDE TO SIDE AS YOU DO SO BEAUTIFULLY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) VAMOS SWEETHEART!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : )
Come on Rafa , you need to do this, I don’t want to wish Roger was still in the tournament so Novak doesn’t take the title
HE WILL PREVAIL ! : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : )
VQAMOS SWEETHEART!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) BOKER TOV!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) GOOD MORNING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) YOU ARE PLAYING BEAUTIFULLY LEADING 3 : 0 CI…………CI…………CI……….AND WE LOVE YOUR PRECIOUS ENERGY AND SLIDING AND RETURNING AND SERVING AND EVERYTHING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) YOU ARE LEADING FABULOUSLY AND ROOF OR NO ROOF MAKES NO DIFFERENCE SWEETHEART….YOU ROCK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) VAMOS SWEETHEART & KEEP GOING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) WE LOVE YOU !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) ENJOY LOTS & LOTS OF FUN WITH YOUR PRECIOUS FIGHTING FOR EACH BALL AND PUTTING YOUR FEISTY RETURNS JUST AS YOU DO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) BRILLIANT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) SENDING LOTS OF LOVE & HAPPINESS & VAMOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) VAMOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) VAMOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX