Novak Djokovic and Juan Martin del Potro put on an instant classic, taking a record 4 hours, 43 minutes - an All English Club record for a semifinals - to settle who would move on to the 2013 Wimbledon finals.
When the smoke cleared, Djokovic advanced to his 11th Grand Slam title, with an opportunity to win his seventh major title. Djokovic busy and tiring day included finishing with 80 winners and 22 aces.
The previous longest Wimbledon semifinal was 4 hours, 1 minute - between Boris Becker and Ivan Lendl in 1989.
"Draining," said Djokovic, who won 10 of his last 12 five-setters. "One of the most exciting matches I've ever played in my life."
Del Potro saved two match points in the fourth-set tiebreaker, then had a first break at 2-2 in the final set. Djokovic held on by sending a backhand winner. Three games later Djokovic broke going up 5-3 when del Potro smacked a long forehand.
Del Potro managed to break point with Djokovic serving for the match. Djokovic nailed a drop-shot winner that had clipped the net to move on to the finals.
"You needed to stay committed and concentrated in order to wait for the chance," said Djokovic. "When it's presented, you have to grab it. I managed to do that in the fifth."
Djokovic will face England's Andy Murray, looking to become the first Brit to earn a Wimbledon title since Fred Perry did it in 1936. Murray defeated 24th-seeded Jerzy Janowicz of Poland 6-7 (2), 6-4, 6-4, 6-3 in a match that was delayed in order to close Centre Court's retractable roof.
"It's a tough situation," said Murray. "There were probably 45 minutes of light left. I'd like to think this is an outdoor event and you try to play as much as you can outdoors. But I managed to regain focus. I took a shower, talked to the guys a little bit and got back to it."
Murray defeated Djokovic in five sets at the U.S. Open to earn the first major title for a British man since Perry, months after his historic win at Wimbledon. Djokovic got a measure of payback beating Murray at the Australian Open.
Murray, who lost in last year's Wimbledon final to Roger Federer, feels he is better mentally prepared for the occasion, having defeated Federer in the 2012 London Olympics, winning gold on Centre Court.
"I was very relieved after the semis last year, whereas this year, I was a bit happier," said Murray. "I'll be probably in a better place mentally. I would hope so, just because I've been there before."
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