Djokovic survives to earn Nadal showdown

Be prepared for a six-hour epic when Novak Djokovic meets Rafael Nadal in today's men's singles semi-finals. Having taken one hour, two hours, three hours and then four hours to win his first four matches, there was only one way that Djokovic's quarter-final was going to go here yesterday.

After five hours of intense competition, the Serb beat Marcos Baghdatis 7-6, 7-6, 6-7, 4-6, 7-5 to reach the All England Club semi-finals for the first time. No wonder he sang Gloria Gaynor's "I Will Survive" when a group of players recently recorded a karaoke video for a French TV station.

Having needed on-court treatment for a back injury in the middle of his fourth-round victory over Lleyton Hewitt the previous day, Djokovic might have been expected to wilt against an opponent who had enjoyed straight-sets victories in the previous two rounds over David Nalbandian, a former finalist here, and Nikolay Davydenko, the world No 4.

That seemed the inevitable conclusion when Baghdatis recovered from two sets down to force a final set, but Djokovic is a formidable athlete and an iron-willed competitor. At 5-5 in the decider, both players having held their serves with comparative ease, the 20-year-old world No 5 dug deep to play a game with an intensity that belied his previous exertions, breaking Baghdatis to love and finishing off the game with three superb points.

An inside-out forehand winner took Djokovic to 0-30 and although it was Baghdatis who netted an easy forehand to set up three break points he did so under intense pressure as the Serb forced him into the extra shot by stretching for a backhand which had seemed beyond his reach.

On second serve at 0-40 Djokovic launched into a ferocious backhand crosscourt winner to take a 6-5 lead. Baghdatis looked a beaten man and Djokovic served out for victory.

Roared on by a vociferous group of Cypriot supporters, Baghdatis had made a spirited comeback after Djokovic had saved six set points to take the second set with his eighth win in nine tie-breaks here this year. The 22-year-old world No 16 had treatment for a shoulder injury at the start of the third set, in which he lost the first three games before reeling off five in succession and winning the tie-break 7-3. The tide seemed to have turned when he broke serve twice in a row at the end of the fourth set, but Djokovic regrouped to produce that thrilling finale. "I'm feeling exhausted, but I won and that's the most important thing," Djokovic said. "I think you're happier when you win a close match because you know you've been on the edge of losing. The emotions are stronger.

"Because of the weather I've only had one or two days off since the start of the tournament. That's not a very encouraging way to go into a semi-final. Rafa has been in that situation as well, but he's spent much fewer hours on the court. Physically he's probably the best prepared player in the world, but I'll try to do my best and recover." Djokovic's run here follows a remarkable start to the year. He has already won three tournaments, reached the semi-finals of the French Open (where he lost to Nadal) and established himself as the world's third best player.

His good friend Andy Murray, who has played only one tour match in the last three months after a succession of injuries, must be looking at his achievements with a mixture of admiration and envy. Until Djokovic started reaching for the stars in the spring, they had been matching each other almost step for step.

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