Wimbledon 2019 semifinal highlights: Novak Djokovic wins 6-2, 4-6, 6-3, 6-2

World no.1 Novak Djokovic overcame a stiff challenge from Spanish Bautista Agut to win the semifinal clash 6-2, 4-6, 6-3, 6-2. Novak won the first set, but then Agut fought back brilliantly to clinch the second one. Even in the third set, Agut matched Novak blow to blow till the later started to regain his old mojo. From then onwards, it all went downhill for the Spaniard as Novak tightened his grip over the match and ultimately eeked out a victory to march on to the final.

Novak wins 6-2, 4-6, 6-3, 6-2

Bautista Agut skews a forehand into the middle of the net on the first point of the Djokovic service game but a neat backhand winner down the line gets him to 30-15. A drive volley winner from the Serb brings up two match points. The first is saved with a great crosscourt backhand, despite a Becker-esque dive. A forehand winner on the lunge from the Spaniard off a Djokovic drop shot saves the second. A third is also saved when the Serb goes wide with a backhand.A tired backhand into the net from Bautista Agut finds the net to offer a fourth match point. Saved again. A second serve ace brings up a fifth chance. Surely he will finish it now. He does with an unreturned first serve.

Agut holds, 2-6, 6-4, 3-6, 2-5

Novak Djokovic isn't presented with any opportunities to make a third break of serve in the set as the Spaniard races through a love hold.

The world No 1 will serve for the match - the first of two such opportunities.

Novak holds, 6-2, 4-6, 6-3, 5-1

Bautista Agut is cutting a forlorn expression at the baseline and even his best returns of serve are picked off at the net by a tremendous low volley winner.

Love hold for the top seed who closes in on his sixth Wimbledon final.

Novak holds, 6-2, 4-6, 6-3, 4-1

And that might just be that. Bautista Agut is broken for the second time in the fourth set as the physical toll begins to tell for the Spaniard.

Djokovic is almost revelling in the contest out there and is enjoying being able to be the dominant force out on court.

Novak holds, 6-2, 4-6, 6-3, 3-1

Djokovic's consistency at the net has been almost metronomic and the Serb uses the ploy to good effect as he consolidates the break with a love hold.

Novak holds, 6-2, 4-6, 6-3, 2-1

Djokovic loses his footing behind the baseline as he is wrong footed by a Bautista Agut cross-court forehand winner. The Serb, though, continues to make the Spaniard work for every point and seizes on a short ball to force a volley on the stretch land long from Bautista Agut. The Spaniard then goes long and the pressure tells as he is broken for the first time in the fourth set.

Novak holds, 6-2, 4-6, 6-3 1-1

Djokovic keeps the pressure up on Bautista Agut as he holds serve to 30, despite a double fault midway through the game.

Agut holds, 2-6, 6-4, 3-6, 1-0

Huge frustration for Djokovic as he goes long with a regulation service return off a second serve at 30-30. But the Serb responds with a winner which catches the very back of the baseline.

Bautista Agut saves a break point at the net, having moments earlier found the net with an attempted drop shot from behind the baseline.

The Spaniard then saves a second break point with a serve that kicks up slightly and extracts an error. A cry of ‘Vamos’ from the 23rd seed.

Fine volley from Bautista Agut. Even Djokovic has to applaud that. But a forehand into the net from the Spaniard finds the net. Nine minutes long this game. Hugely important

This is gutsy from Bautista Agut. He saves a third break point of the game with an overhead at the net. A forehand winner, which wrong foots Djokovic, brings up a game point.

Bautista Agut then serves and volleys and hits an exquisite volley winner. Some hold that and he is rightly pumped. Vamos' all round.

Novak holds, 6-2, 4-6, 6-3

Frustration for Bautista Agut as he gets to a Djokovic drop shot with plenty of time to spare but pushes his forehand into the tramlines to fall 30-0.

Djokovic serves a double fault at 40-0 but seals the third set on his second set point with a forehand volley winner, which catches the top of the net before diving over.

Agut holds, 2-6, 6-4, 3-5

Classy game in response from Bautista Agut as he holds to love in double quick time. The Spaniard asks the question of the world No 1.

Novak holds, 6-2, 4-6, 5-2

Excellent squash shot off the backhand wing which knifes low over the net as the world No 1 can't react quick enough with his feet. A mistimed forehand then sails wide and the Spaniard has two chances for the immediate break back!

The 23rd misses out with the first one as he nets a forehand. A backhand winner down the line from Djokovic saves the second - at the end of a 45 shot rally! A couple of unreturned serves help secure the hold. Djokovic lets out a huge roar.

Novak breaks, 6-2, 4-6, 4-2

Djokovic at full stretch hits a forehand cross-court winner past Bautista Agut to get to 15-30 on the Spaniard's serve.

After missing with a weak service return, Djokovic then brings up a break point with a well constructed point and finishes it off at the net.

Big message sent there by the Serb, who celebrates vocally and stares in the direction of the crowd inside Centre Court.

Novak holds, 6-2, 4-6, 3-2

Djokovic is still producing moments of magic but his game is lacking consistency.

He misses a regulation forehand by a considerable distance at 40-15, before a brilliant cross-court forehand from Bautista Agut brings us to deuce.

Djokovic survives and fires down his seventh ace. Big hold.

Agut holds, 2-6, 6-4, 2-2

Bautista Agut is looking very composed at present.

He completes another convincing hold to level up the set.

Djokovic with work to do...

Novak holds, 6-2, 4-6, 2-1

Djokovic double faults, before Bautista Agut produces a brilliant forehand winner down the line.

The World No 1 can only applaud, but he shows his class by responding with an ace to regain the lead in set three.

Agut holds, 2-6, 6-4, 1-1

Djokovic wins an extraordinary 34-shot rally to threaten a break at 15-30.

However, Bautista Agut holds firm and Novak is livid.

This is getting interesting...

Novak holds, 6-2, 4-6, 1-0

Djokovic was subdued throughout the second set but at 15-30 on serve he finds some much-needed intensity to draw first blood in the third.

Agut holds, 2-6, 6-4

Djokovic dominated the baseline rallies throughout the opening set, but the roles have been reversed in the second.

The Spaniard's serve out wide has been an effective weapon and at 30-30, it gives him his first set point.

The 23rd seed enjoys a fortunate let cord which sees him wrap up the set.

Djokovic looks rattled and sarcastically incites the crowd to applaud...

Novak holds, 6-2, 4-5

A series of well constructed points from Djokovic sees him race 40-30 ahead, but his unforced error count rises to give Bautista Agut a lifeline in this game.

However, the World No 1 escapes and Bautista Agut will now serve to wrap up the second set.

Agut holds, 2-6, 5-3

Djokovic's level has dropped considerably in this second set.

He's not playing with the same conviction and in a game riddled with errors, the Spaniard closes out a comfortable hold.

Bautista Agut is one game away from restoring parity!

Novak holds 6-2, 3-4

Djokovic made just five unforced errors in the opening set - he's already made nine in the second.

He's also changed his racket on three separate occasions since the first set, but he eventually holds to heap the pressure back on Bautista Agut.

The Spaniard is in the ascendancy, but can he maintain this momentum?

Agut holds, 2-6, 4-2

Djokovic is becoming a little frustrated. Bautista Agut is playing with far more aggression and he closes out another service game to love to restore his cushion.

Novak holds, 6-2, 2-3

Bautista Agut is yet to miss a single backhand return and he's growing in confidence.

He gives himself two more break points to gain total control of the set, but Djokovic stand firm.

He fires down his fourth ace to save the second break point, before coming out on top in a gruelling 23-shot rally en route to holding serve.

That could prove to be very crucial.

Agut holds, 2-6, 3-1

Djokovic wasimpregnable during the opening set but he's been a little sloppy in the exchanges of the second.

Bautista Agut is now playing with greater confidence and his forehand is coming to the fore. He registers another ace to cement the break advantage.

Agut breaks, 2-6, 2-1

Bautista Agut breaks!

Terrific passing shot by the Spaniard to move to 0-30, before Djokovic misjudges a return from Bautista Agut, as the ball just falls in.

This gives the 23rd seed two break points and he pounces, sealing the break with a thumping forehand winner.

The Centre Court crowd enjoyed that!

Agut holds, 2-6, 1-1

Excellent service game by Bautista Agut.

He holds to love in a game featuring his second ace, and he served with far more purpose and vigour there.

Level pegging at the start of the second.

Novak holds, 6-2, 1-0

Bautista Agut has done little wrong thus far.

He is just being outplayed by an irrepressible Djokovic.

The defending champ holds to love to kick off the second set.

Novak breaks, 6-2

Bautista Agut has serve and volleyed just three times in the entire tournament, despite spending over 10 hours on court.

The lack of variation is allowing Djokovic to dictate proceedings and the Serb is playing superbly.

A wayward forehand from the Spaniard gives Djokovic the opening set.

He's won 93% of points on his first serve, whilst he's registered 12 winners and made just five unforced errors.

So far, so very good.

Novak holds, 5-2

You feel Bautista Agut is hanging on here. He's having to exert every ounce of effort to simply hold his serve, whilst Djokovic emphatically holds to love courtesy of two more aces.

The top seed is one game away from clinching the opening set.

Agut holds, 2-4

Bautista Agut slams down his first ace of the contest to avert fears of a break, but Djokovic wins a thrilling exchange at the net to force deuce.

Credit to the Spaniard however. He finds two first serves when he needed them most to stay in touch.

Can he now break the Djokovic serve?

Novak holds, 4-1

Bautista Agut appears to have settled and he makes his first real inroads on the Djokovic serve at 15-30.

However, the World No 1 produces a dazzling cross-court forehand, before firing down his first ace of the contest to close out an important hold.

Agut holds, 1-3

Bautista Agut is not a particularly big server and that spells trouble against Djokovic.

The Spaniard is constantly being pressured as his unforced error count creeps into double figures, but he comes through a hard-fought service game to open his account!

Novak holds, 3-0 (First set)

Bautista Agut goes to 15-30 after back-to-back errors from Djokovic, but the Spaniard loses his footing at an inopportune moment and sends a forehand way wide.

His forehand is predominantly his strength but it's proven to be his undoing in the early stages. Djokovic extends his lead with a deft volley.

Novak breaks, 2-0 (First set)

Beautiful play at the net by Bautista Agut, who appeared to be on the verge of going 0-30 down.

However, the Spaniard has already made a number of forehand errors and he sends a backhand long to gift Djokovic an immediate break.

Perfect start for the Serb.

Novak holds, 1-0 (First set)

Unforced error from Agut makes it easy for Novak to take the first game. A cracking forehand from Novak sets the tone for the World no.1

The players have made their way on to Centre Court! It's another day of sunshine in south-west London.

Will Djokovic remain on course for a fifth Wimbledon title, or can Bautista Agut make history at SW19?

Time for action!

Djokovic won the toss and will serve first!

He has come a long way.

"My preparation has been good. I think I played a great tournament in Halle. I made two good matches there and I also had Federer against the ropes in the quarter-finals.

“My objective is to make the basics of my game strong. I will not try to serve at 220kph because that will never happen in my life. I have tried to strengthen my strengths and that takes a lot of work, many hours of dedication and physical preparation. There is a lot of sweat that takes place at home."

All the semifinalists this year are over 30 years old. Plenty of experience on the court!

The clash for a place in the summit

Welcome to the live coverge of Wimbledon 2019 semifinal match between Novak Djokovic and Bautista Agut. Novak will be confident of a win, but Bautista has proved to be his kryptonite this year till now. Can Novak maintain his dominance, or will Agut pull off an upset? We will find out soon!

The first of many!

The road to final

The stars are in town