That's as good as it gets.
The quality of tennis was exceptional, the length of the match was a record, the sportsmanship was first class, the effort given was inspirational and the respect earned will last a lifetime. In a match no one wanted to see end, Novak Djokovic triumphed over Juan Martin del Potro, 7-5, 4-6, 7-6 (2), 6-7 (6), 6-3, in the longest Wimbledon men's semifinal on Friday.
For 4 hours 43 minutes the sporting world was given a beautiful gift by two of the games great gladiators. Both players won but only Djokovic will move forward to play Andy Murray in Sunday's final.
This match was so special because of the incredible level of tennis and how close it was for so long. The offense was jaw dropping. The defense was equally ridiculous, especially from Djokovic, who was often found doing splits while sliding on the dead run, hitting an open-stance backhand winner down the line.
There were only five breaks of serve in five long sets, but each set had its moments when both players found another gear to surge ahead.
In the first set crunch time came late with del Potro serving at 5-6. Through the quarterfinals he had won 73 of 75 service games and had also won his first five service games of the opening set. But he would drop serve at this critical time and lose the set after holding a 30-0 lead. At 30-0 Djokovic hit one of his sliding, fantasyland backhand winners down the line into the very corner of the court. There is not another person on the planet with that shot. Djokovic made the score 30-30 with a backhand drop that del Potro couldn't get over the net. Then del Potro missed a slice backhand long and a first shot forehand after his serve that went just wide to lose the set.
The second set was decided around the middle of the set when Djokovic failed to convert four break points with del Potro serving at 2-3. As often happens, the momentum quickly shifted and the player who just saved the break points played with a little more inspiration and broke his opponent in the very next service game. Del Potro broke Djokovic to love with two forehand winners and forced two forehand errors from Djokovic.
In the third set Djokovic had three set points with del Potro serving at 5-6 and the score 0-40, but again del Potro was able to wriggle out from under the guillotine. At 2-3 in the tiebreaker del Potro had an incredibly easy overhead for a winner and hit it straight to Djokovic, who threw up another lob that del Potro netted as Djokovic slipped onto the grass. All del Potro needed was to hit the ball in, and the point was his. He didn't recover mentally from that error and didn't win another point in the tiebreaker.
The fourth set produced one of the most heart-warming moments of the championships. With Djokovic serving at 2-3 and the score 15-15, he approached del Potro's backhand and hit a backhand drop volley that del Potro somehow ran down and flicked a forehand passing shot down the line that just went long. Del Potro's momentum took him behind the umpire's chair over to Djokovic's side of the court where they smiled and discussed whether the ball was in or out, and who was going to challenge.
"That was an important point," Djokovic said in his postmatch interview. "I hit a drop-shot. He hit a running forehand. The ball was very close to the line. Line umpire called it good; chair umpire said, out."
Djokovic said it seemed more out to him but luckily he didn't have to challenge. "It was on him to decide if he wanted to challenge or not. He asked me what's going on. I said, 'Listen, if I was you, I would challenge.' He said, 'No, but you know it's out, and don't waste my challenge.' I said, 'O.K., you decide whatever you want. But truly, I'm not lying to you. It's very close. I didn't know for sure."
The whole exchange was friendly and smiling and a refreshing moment in a tense battle to reach a Wimbledon final.
Djokovic broke del Potro at 4-3 in the fourth set but was broken right back, and things cruised along to another tiebreaker. Djokovic raced to a 6-4 lead and held two match points, but del Potro dug deep and if possible, swung harder. He found a renewed well of energy and enthusiasm and won four straight points to force a fifth set and bring the center court crowd to its feet.
Del Potro had the first break point of the fifth set with Djokovic serving at 2-2 but missed a forehand wide. Djokovic had a break point in the next game but put a forehand into the net. Djokovic got the crucial break with del Potro serving at 3-4 with incredible defense to extend the rallies. At 15-15 they played a 22-shot thunderous rally that Djokovic won with a drop shot lob combination that took the wind out of del Potro's legs and lungs. On that point he first serve was 129 miles per hour but on the next point it was only 108. He had finally reached his limit.
Djokovic still had to fight off a break point serving at 5-3 but he clinched it with a backhand down the line winner to finally finish one of the most epic battles our sport has ever seen.
Novak Djokovic and Juan Martin Del Potro – we salute you.
Craig O'Shannessy directs a tennis strategy analysis company called the Brain Game and runs the Brain Game Tennis Academy at the Polo Tennis Club in Austin, Tex. He can be followed on Twitter at @braingametennis
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