Serbia's Novak Djokovic gestures after winning a point during his men's singles semifinals match against Rafael Nadal of Spain at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships, in London, Saturday July 14, 2018.(AP Photo/Ben Curtis)
The Associated Press
LONDON (AP) - Novak Djokovic sent the strongest signal yet that he is back at full strength by reaching his fifth Wimbledon final with a 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 (9), 3-6, 10-8 victory over rival Rafael Nadal on Saturday in a match suspended overnight.
Djokovic is bidding for a fourth championship at the All England Club and 13th Grand Slam title overall.
He'll face Kevin Anderson in Sunday's final. Anderson beat John Isner in a 6ˆ½-hour semifinal that ended at 26-24 fifth set Friday night, pushing back the start of Djokovic vs. Nadal.
The second semifinal then was halted when the third set ended just past 11 p.m., because of a neighborhood curfew. It had started with Centre Court's retractable roof closed and so concluded that way, too, even though there was no hint of rain.
Djokovic hasn't won a major in more than two years, dealing with an injured right elbow that was so painful in 2017 he quit his quarterfinal at Wimbledon and sat out the rest of the season.
He had surgery in February, but his results were still shaky. Until now, that is.
Undaunted by losing his lead and being forced to an extra set, Djokovic saved break points at 4-all and 7-all in the fifth, before breaking Nadal at love to end things.
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Rafael Nadal of Spain returns the ball to Serbia's Novak Djokovic during their men's singles semifinals match at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships, in London, Saturday July 14, 2018.(AP Photo/Tim Ireland)
The Associated Press
Serbia's Novak Djokovic kneels after losing a point during his men's singles semifinals match against Rafael Nadal of Spain at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships, in London, Saturday July 14, 2018.(AP Photo/Ben Curtis)
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Serbia's Novak Djokovic returns the ball to Rafael Nadal of Spain during their men's singles semifinals match at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships, in London, Saturday July 14, 2018.(AP Photo/Tim Ireland)
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Novak Djokovic of Serbia and Rafael Nadal of Spain arrive on Centre Court to resume their men's singles semifinal match at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships, in London, Saturday July 14, 2018. (John Walton/Pool via AP)
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Serbia's Novak Djokovic, top, returns the ball to Rafael Nadal of Spain during their men's singles semifinals match at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships, in London, Saturday July 14, 2018.(AP Photo/Ben Curtis)
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Rafael Nadal of Spain serves to Novak Djokovic of Serbia during their men's singles semifinal match at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships, in London, Saturday July 14, 2018. (John Walton/Pool via AP)
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Kate, Duchess of Cambridge and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, right, sit in the Royal Box on Centre Court duriing the men's singles semifinal match between Rafael Nadal of Spain and Novak Djokovic of Serbia at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships, in London, Saturday July 14, 2018. (Andrew Couldridge, Pool via AP)
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