There was a feeling of inevitability when defending champion Novak Djokovic took to the court against perhaps surprise semifinalist Richard Gasquet. The Frenchman had weathered a tense five-setter against French Open champion Stan Wawrinka, but the real question was whether he could bring that same flair and grit to the court once more.

It was perhaps not the best of starts, losing his first service game. But Gasquet also showed he was not there to make up the numbers, breaking Djokovic straight back before the first change of ends.

With Djokovic breaking him twice in the tiebreak, and standing a set to the good, it would be a long road for the Frenchman. It probably should not have included getting broken at the start of the second set. It was by just that margin that Djokovic sealed the second set, although he received treatment for his shoulder, sending commentators and fans alike into a frenzy of anxiety.

Gasquet is probably known for his great collapses, having snatched defeat from the jaws of victory a few times in his past. Once more, he fell foul of a crucial early break, and while he fought off two match points later down the line as he struggled to hold on to his serve, a simple if not clinical hold to love sent Djokovic into the final once more.

The Serb is now just one match away from equaling his mentor Boris Becker’s achievement of a third Wimbledon title.

In the second semifinal between Roger Federer and Andy Murray, the pace that was set in the opening exchanges was as blistering as the late sun hitting the court. Federer’s serving stats were predictably high, and it proved to be the determining factor in the first set as a sloppy service game at 5-6 cost Murray a vital foothold and advantage in the match.

If either player dipped in the second set, it was imperceptible, as once more they stayed with each other nip and tuck, until a pivotal hold for Murray saw him save five set points.

Another inexplicably sloppy game serving at 5-6, however, handed the set to Federer for a two-set advantage - and a very long road back for Murray. It simply came down to the fact that against most other players, Murray would have romped home in time for a clotted cream tea. But Federer had an answer for everything, breaking him once more at the end of the third set after some clutch tennis.

The moment undeniably belonged to Federer, who had this to say:  “The thing is you can't compare different days, different opponents, different surfaces.  At the end, you're just happy you're able to do it many times in a career or a few times in important moments.  Again, one set doesn't make the difference.  If you play one great set and end up losing, it wasn't worth anything.

“Today I was clearly able to play very well from the start.  The beginning was always going to be an important part of the game.  I had to save a break point first, then I was able to start rolling on my serve.  Played a great game to break.

“So definitely one of the best matches I've played in my career.  The first set I don't remember point by point, but it was definitely really, really solid.”

The final is set – a rematch of last year’s - and if today’s semifinals are anything to go by, we could be facing another five-set thriller – but will it be Roger’s moment of glory this time?