Wimbledon semi-final: Djokovic v Nadal after Anderson’s epic with Isner – live!

Third set: *Djokovic 6-4, 3-6, 5-5 Nadal (*denotes next server)

Tim Henman believes this set deserves to go to a tie-break. He may have a point, but given how many we saw earlier, those words may send a shudder down your spine. Nadal holds comfortably.

Third set: Djokovic 6-4, 3-6, 5-4 Nadal* (*denotes next server)

Djokovic double faults. It’s the first of the evening from either player, such are the standards these two set. But that’s the only blip in an otherwise solid service game. Nadal reaches for the forehand, which never looks like it’s going to land in court, and Djokovic holds to 15.

Third set: *Djokovic 6-4, 3-6, 4-4 Nadal (*denotes next server)

Quite how Djokovic manages to slide like he does on the grass, I don’t know. It’s like he’s playing on clay. The pair both show tremendous agility on the opening point, which goes Nadal’s way. 15-0. 30-0. 30-15. 40-15. Game, when Djokovic’s return clatters into the net. Nadal, looking so intense, immediately strides purposefully to the baseline to receive.

Third set: Djokovic 6-4, 3-6, 4-3 Nadal* (*denotes next server)

We’re hearing the match will resume tomorrow (if it doesn’t finish within the next 40 minutes) under the roof, because that’s how the match started. But if both players agree for the roof to be opened, it will be. I’m sure Nadal would like them to raise the roof (the players are already doing that figuratively right now) but Djokovic may not given the indoor conditions favour him. Djokovic holds.

Third set: *Djokovic 6-4, 3-6, 3-3 Nadal (*denotes next server)

Two unforced errors from Nadal and it’s 0-30. He gets one point back and then restores parity with a serve out wide, which Djokovic gets the smallest of touches on. Nadal then moves to 40-30. And he finishes with a thunderbolt of a forehand down the line.

Third set: Djokovic 6-4, 3-6, 3-2 Nadal* (*denotes next server)

Djokovic sprints through on serve to love. And good to see Trump’s been bumped off BBC1 for the tennis.

Third set: *Djokovic 6-4, 3-6, 2-2 Nadal (*denotes next server)

Despite the clock ticking past 10pm, the spectators are still out in force. I can’t see whether the patrons in the Royal Box are still there. Bear Grylls was there earlier, perhaps he could teach the crowd some survival lessons about watching 10 consecutive hours of tennis. But I digress. Nadal pounds a forehand deep to Djokovic’s right for the hold.

Third set: Djokovic 6-4, 3-6, 2-1 Nadal* (*denotes next server)

A game of cat and mouse on the second point. Djokovic prevails. This is their first meeting at Wimbledon since the 2011 final and it’s been worth the wait. 30-0. 40-0. 40-15. Game.

Third set: *Djokovic 6-4, 3-6, 1-1 Nadal (*denotes next server)

What a ridiculous improvised overhead from Nadal on the spin and the rally isn’t over there, they continue before Nadal eventually wins through. He deserved that point. 15-0. 30-0. 40-0, when Nadal biffs down the line and Djokovic nets. Game.

Third set: Djokovic 6-4, 3-6, 1-0 Nadal* (*denotes next server)

I think it’s most likely this will be finished before the women’s final tomorrow rather than after. I remember that happening several years ago, when MaliVai Washington defeated Todd Martin in their delayed semi-final before Steffi Graf beat Arantxa Sanchez Vicario in the women’s final. Nadal, meanwhile, briefly leaves the court between sets, before coming back to receive. Djokovic holds to 30.

So Nadal is serving to level the match. Gasps on the opening point when Nadal’s drop shot slumps into the net. The pair are moving each other left and right and left and right and left and right and left and right and left on the right on the second point – this is like 2012 all over again. The rally totals 17 shots, ending with a Nadal volley. 15-all. 30-15. 30-all. 30-40, break point, after another long exchange. These are the best moments of the match so far, quality-wise. Unreturned serve, deuce. Djokovic has some words for his box. Nadal misses with a forehand down the line. Advantage Djokovic, another break point. Deuce. Finally it’s Nadal’s advantage for his first set point. Djokovic’s backhand skids into the tramlines and Nadal takes the set!

Second set: Djokovic 6-4, 3-5 Nadal* (*denotes next server)

Djokovic gets to 40-15 with a fine stop volley. A 91mph forehand from Nadal rocks him back to 40-30. But another touch volley and that’s the game.

Second set: *Djokovic 6-4, 2-5 Nadal (*denotes next server)

A strong, strong hold from Nadal. 15-0, 30-0, 40-0, game. This is an enthralling match, it’s such a shame they’re unlikely to finish this evening. The 11pm curfew can’t be broken, it’s set by the local council.

Second set: Djokovic 6-4, 2-4 Nadal* (*denotes next server)

Neither player seems to fancy holding serve at the moment. Djokovic drops to 0-30. He just makes a forehand, which clips the outside of the sideline, but he’s living dangerously. 15-30. 30-all. 40-30. Deuce, when he nets Nadal’s return. Come the big moment, comes the ball bounce. Bounce, bounce, bounce, bounce, bounce, bounce, bounce, bounce, bounce, bounce. “It drives me crazy how many times he bounces the ball,” says Becker. And perhaps Djokovic has driven himself crazy, because it’s Nadal’s advantage, break point. Deuce. Nadal’s advantage, a second break point. He lassos a forehand and Djokovic is caught in the noose. Nadal breaks!

Second set: *Djokovic 6-4, 2-3 Nadal (*denotes next server)

A quite fantastic third point, Nadal is stretching and sliding and spinning before Djokovic puts him out of his misery with a lob. 15-40, two break-back points. Djokovic chops a forehand, Nadal cracks it back, but Djokovic crunches it past Nadal with interest. Djokovic breaks straight back! “In a moment of crisis he attacks,” says Becker.

Second set: *Djokovic 6-4, 1-3 Nadal (*denotes next server)

At 15-30, Djokovic drags an errant forehand well wide! He didn’t need to go for the shot that much. So Nadal has his first break points of the match. And he strikes on the first! Nadal breaks, very much against the run of play. Djokovic will be disgusted with himself.

Second set: *Djokovic 6-4, 1-2 Nadal (*denotes next server)

Djokovic has been missing in action for much of the last two years. He hasn’t won a grand slam since the French Open in 2016, when he completed a career slam and held all four titles at the same time. But it’s fair to say the real Novak Djokovic is standing up here. The wall is back. Nadal just can’t hit through him. Djokovic has a break point at 30-40 and another at his advantage. He screams at himself after missing the second, the first sign of frustration from him. Given the way he’s been raging at everything and everyone this fortnight, he’s been fairly calm this evening. Nadal gets a spade out of his bag and digs himself out of a hole to hold. Wonder what the Wimbledon ground staff will say about that.

Second set: Djokovic 6-4, 1-1 Nadal* (*denotes next server)

A good omen for Djokovic: apparently 44 of the 51 matches between these two have been won by the player who took the first set. A ridiculous point at deuce, when Djokovic has to smash the ball again and again and again and again before settling matters. Advantage Djokovic. Boris Becker, Djokovic’s former coach, is on the BBC commentary and admits the overhead is not the Serb’s finest shot. “Nothing worked, we tried everything [to improve it],” Becker laughs.

Second set: *Djokovic 6-4, 0-1 Nadal (*denotes next server)

Nadal, having needed nearly five hours to see off Del Potro in the quarter-finals, perhaps isn’t as physically fresh as Djokovic but there’s no doubt the conditions are also favouring Djokovic this evening. The ball isn’t bouncing as high as it was earlier when it was warmer. That not only means Nadal’s top-spin is less vicious, it also means he’s having to bend down a little lower on the grass with his creaking knees. Nadal stumbles at the start of the second set, going 30-40 down on serve. But he’s fist pumping and vamosing after saving the break point. Deuce. Advantage Nadal. A second deuce. A second advantage Nadal. Game Nadal.

An attritional first point, they’re both hitting so deep and true, and Djokovic takes it. 15-0. 30-0. A fifth ace, 40-0. Three set points. Just the one will do. Djokovic secures the set under the Friday night lights with a fizzing forehand winner! Having been made to wait – and wait – and wait – to get on court, he doesn’t seem to want to hang around here.

First set: *Djokovic 5-4 Nadal (*denotes next server)

Nadal picks a good time for his first love hold. But he’s now going to have to find a way to break Djokovic for the first time to keep this set going for more than one more game.

First set: Djokovic 5-3 Nadal* (*denotes next server)

Djokovic backs up the break with very little fuss. 15-0. 30-0. 40-0. 40-15. Game. It’s over to Nadal to hold serve to stay in the opening set …

First set: *Djokovic 4-3 Nadal (*denotes next server)

Ooohs and aaahs on the opening point, followed by rapturous applause. No disrespect to Anderson and Isner, they both left everything on the court earlier, but the crowd are loving these early exchanges. At 0-30 on Nadal’s serve, Djokovic thinks he’s won the point for three break points, but his effort is called out. Hawk-Eye reveals it was a blade or two of grass in! 0-40. 15-40. Djokovic’s return is too hot to handle and Djokovic claims the first break!

First set: Djokovic 3-3 Nadal* (*denotes next server)

Djokovic has been pushing in Nadal’s service games and now it’s Nadal’s turn to apply a bit of pressure. Deuce. But an unreturned serve and winner later, and it’s Djokovic’s game.

Tomorrow’s intended order of play, but it depends on whether this match gets finished tonight. Which seems unlikely unless it’s straight sets. Which seems unlikely given these two.

First set: *Djokovic 2-3 Nadal (*denotes next server)

Nadal is under pressure at 15-30. Pah, what pressure. He pulls off a delicate drop shot. But then flaps at the smash! 30-40. Break point. Djokovic rams his return into the net off Nadal’s second serve. The Serb will be angry he didn’t get that back into play. Deuce. The longest rally of the match, 14 shots, and Djokovic is the victor. Advantage Djokovic, a second break point. Deuce. Advantage Nadal. And it’s Nadal’s game when he gets a drop shot back with the help of a lucky net cord.

First set: Djokovic 2-2 Nadal* (*denotes next server)

A measure of how well Nadal is playing this tournament: Andy Murray said the world No 1’s fifth set against Juan Martin del Potro was one of the best sets of tennis he’d ever seen. And a measure of how well Djokovic is playing: Murray said a few days ago he wouldn’t be at all surprised if Djokovic won the title. Murray’s BBC commentary was excellent during the quarter-finals. Fingers crossed he’ll do it again sometime, but Murray probably hopes it’ll be later rather than sooner as he’d rather be back on court. Meanwhile on this court, Djokovic holds to 15 when Nadal’s return goes a foot or so long.

First set: *Djokovic 1-2 Nadal (*denotes next server)

Credit to both players for the way they’ve come out after being locked up in the locker room for so long. Nadal looks comfortable at 30-all but Djokovic drags himself to 30-all. 40-30 then becomes deuce; Nadal just can’t shake Djokovic off. Nadal looks vulnerable to a cross-court pass but Djokovic opts to go down the line and Nadal pings away a winning volley. Advantage Nadal. Deuce. Advantage Nadal. Game Nadal.

First set: Djokovic 1-1 Nadal* (*denotes next server)

Nadal will no doubt will pleased that this semi-final has made it on to court today but the roof does not favour him. He’s not beaten Djokovic indoors in eight years. Djokovic gets his side of the scoreboard moving with a straightforward hold.

First set: *Djokovic 0-1 Nadal (*denotes next server)

So seven hours after the first semi-final started, the second semi-final is finally under way. And this one could go on for a while too.

Exhibit A: the 2011 US Open final. Four hours and 10 minutes.

Exhibit B: the 2013 French Open semi-final. Four hours and 37 minutes.

Exhibit C: the 2012 Australian Open final. Five hours and 53 minutes.

The pair share the opening two points, before Djokovic edges ahead for 30-15. Nadal charges back for 30-all, 40-30. Djokovic is on the attack on game point, and the approach pays off. Deuce. After a 50-game final set between Anderson and Isner, let’s just hope this match doesn’t start with 50 deuces. Nadal hears the plea, and wins the next two points for an opening hold.

Anderson v Isner wasn’t the only marathon this evening. Just before Anderson’s victory, in the boys’ singles semi-final, Britain’s 16-year-old Jack Draper defeated Colombia’s Nicolas Mejia 19-17 in the final set on his 10^th match point after four hours and 24 minutes. Draper is trying to become Britain’s first champion in the boys’ event since 1962. Jamie Murray and Victoria Azarenka, meanwhile, are through to the mixed doubles final.

It would be understandable if Nadal had been thrown a little by these unusual circumstances. But not at all. He sticks to his usual routine. Jumping up and down at the net during the coin toss? Check. The bull-like charge to the baseline? Check. The lining up of the water bottles? Check. So he’s ready for the warm-up.

So after the longest semi-final in Wimbledon history, the longest match on Centre Court and the second longest grand slam match of all time, are you ready for more tennis? Sure you are. The roof is on, so Nadal and Djokovic can play until 11pm under the lights. That’s the curfew. They’re wasting no time; they’re both already on court.

What a lesson in perseverance from Anderson. Not only today over six hours and 35 minutes but also in his career. It took him nine years to reach his first grand slam final; he’s now made two in 10 months. But what shape will he be in for the final? He played a 13-11 fifth set against Federer in the quarter-finals too. They’ll probably have to bring him on to court on a stretcher on Sunday.

Katy here, Bryan has gone for a deserved lie-down. Anderson didn’t even smile after completing the win, he was too exhausted. He looks like the walking dead for the off-court interview but speaks fairly eloquently given the circumstances:

I don’t really know what to say right now. It’s really tough on both of us. At the end, I feel like it’s a draw between the two of us but someone has to win. John’s such a great guy.

I apologise if I’m not more excited right now but I’ve got so many mixed emotions. All I can say is congratulations to John on such a great tournament. Hopefully he can come back stronger.

I really hope this a sign for grand slams to change this format. For us to be out there for that amount of time, I really hope we can address this.

But at the same time I’m through to the final. I’m definitely going to have to recover as much as I can. It’ll take a long time to process what’s happened today but I’m into the final and that’s a dream come true.

Here’s a snap report on today’s marathon. Now I’ll tag out to the inestimable Katy Murrells, who will take you through the aftermath and run-up to Nadal v Djokovic.

Naturally, Anderson falls behind love-15. An extended rally on the next point but Anderson cuts it short by coming to net and a wilting Isner misfires badly on the passing shot. Anderson hits a 130mph ace, his 49th of the match, for 30-15. Then an unreturnable serve and Anderson has a pair of match points. And he needs only one! Isner mishits early in the rally and the match is over after 6hr 35min! Kevin Anderson becomes the first South African to reach a Wimbledon final in 97 years!

Fifth set: *Anderson 7-6, 6-7, 6-7, 6-4, 25-24 Isner (*denotes next server)

Isner falls behind love-30 for a fourth straight service game. This must be it. And it just may be: Anderson rips a forehand winner for triple break point! Isner saves the first with a serve-and-volley winner, but he’s sent scrambling along the baseline on the next point and dumps a backhand into the net for the long-awaited break of serve! Can Anderson land the plane?