• Wimbledon, Day 11

Djokovic reaches final to seal world No. 1 spot

Novak Djokovic's defence was every bit a match for Jo-Wilfried Tsonga © Getty Images

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Wimbledon Day 11 Gallery
Murray's dream ended by Nadal
What They Said

Novak Djokovic sealed his status as the new world No. 1 after fending off a spirited fightback from Jo-Wilfried Tsonga to reach his first Wimbledon final.

The Serb will dethrone Rafael Nadal as world No. 1 when the new rankings are released on Monday, but he will first focus on inflicting a double blow on the Spaniard - winning Nadal's Wimbledon crown.

Djokovic, who has lost just one of his 48 matches this season is just one win away from a third grand slam title after his 7-6(4) 6-2 6-7(9) 6-3 victory.

Tsonga was riding high following his quarter-final scalp of six-time champion Roger Federer, and he showed no signs of fatigue from a gruelling five-setter as he blazed to an early lead.

The pair thrilled the Centre Court crowd with a host of gripping rallies as each player showed astonishing athleticism, diving around the court to retrieve what looked to be sure-fire winners.

Tsonga started the trend early in the opening set, forcing Djokovic out wide before deftly diving to bury a volley and conjure up break point. After such flair in the previous point, the No. 12 seed then showed impressive patience to clinch the break, which came when Djokovic shoved a forehand long.

Two big serves helped rescue break-back point, and he held his nerve to extend his advantage. Djokovic had a chance to find his way back into the set, but in his eagerness to level, the Serb sprayed a forehand wide.

But with Tsonga serving for the set, the Frenchman appeared to wilt under the pressure, and despite saving three break points, a major gamble backfired. Firing down a 133mph second serve, it failed to clear the net, and Djokovic grabbed his chance to force a tiebreak.

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga threatened to produced another fightback © PA Photos

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Tsonga seemed rattled, and Djokovic's defence was too sharp as Djokovic snatched the opener on a tiebreak. With the world No. 2 firmly in the ascendancy, Tsonga's first-serve statistics began to drop, and Djokovic dominated the rallies as he powered through the second set in a shade over half an hour.

Having seen Tsonga's fightback against Federer from two sets down, Djokovic could not afford to take his foot off the gas, but when another breathtaking rally saw Tsonga leap off the turf to volley long, it looked like the Frenchman's resistance had crumbled as Djokovic snatched an early break in the third to put one foot in the final.

But just as it looked like the remaining games would be merely ceremonial, the Frenchman dug deep to break back to level at four games apiece.

However, Djokovic is not set to be crowned the new world No. 1 without warrant, and despite great support for Tsonga from a crowd wanting to see more scintillating tennis, Djokovic broke once again to move within one game of the final.

The Serb has been virtually unbeatable this season, but as he served for the match, Tsonga simply refused to be beaten, and broke back once more and in a topsy-turvy tiebreaker, Tsonga emerged triumphant.

He did it against Federer, could he pull off another unlikely comeback against Djokovic? With Djokovic rattled, Tsonga would need to strike while the iron was still hot, but it was Djokovic who made the early breakthrough, breaking his opponent to love to snatch an early advantage.

The flamboyant Frenchman continued to produce moments of mouth-watering tennis, but he was unable to find a way back as Djokovic held firm to secure his place in the final, where he awaits either British No. 1 Andy Murray, or the man he is set to usurp at the top of the rankings - Nadal.

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