Novak Djokovic fashioned a second consecutive comeback victory at Wimbledon on Friday, this one with a deficit far less daunting, the drama far less possible.
The top-seeded Djokovic beat No. 9 seed Cam Norrie of Britain 2-6, 6-3, 6-2, 6-4 in the semifinals to run his winning streak at the All England Club to 27 matches in a row as he pursues a fourth straight championship there.
On the steamiest afternoon of the fortnight so far, with the temperature reaching 85 degrees Fahrenheit (30 Celsius) and the air still, Djokovic got off to a slow start and often looked displeased, shaking his head or gesticulating toward his guest box. But unlike in the quarterfinals, when he dropped the opening two sets against No. 10 seed Jannik Sinner before winning in five, it took little time for Djokovic to assert his dominance.
When it ended, Djokovic curled his lips as if sending a kiss to someone in the stands who had been backing Norrie during the match.
Djokovic will face first-time major finalist Nick Kyrgios for the trophy on Sunday. The unseeded Kyrgios, a 27-year-old from Australia, did not need to play on Friday because 22-time Grand Slam champion Rafael Nadal withdrew from their semifinal with a torn abdominal muscle.
It will be the 32nd Grand Slam title match for Djokovic, breaking a tie for the men's record he shared with Roger Federer, and gives the 35-year-old from Serbia a shot at a 21st major title and seventh at Wimbledon. Only Federer, with eight, owns more at the grass-court tournament.
1st-time champ
The names and faces of the star players at Wimbledon didn't matter to Elena Rybakina when she was a child. The majesty of the tournament made pretty a big impression, though.
On Saturday, she'll get a chance to add her name to the pantheon of greats at the oldest and most prestigious tennis tournament of them all.
"As a kid, I don't remember exactly who was playing, but when Wimbledon was on TV, it was always traditional white. I remember this well," Rybakina said. "Strawberries. Champagne. It's something, like, very nice to see."
Rybakina is one match away from winning a Grand Slam tournament for the first time, in her first major final. And so is her opponent, Ons Jabeur - the first Arab woman and first African woman ever to reach this stage at one of the four biggest tournaments in tennis.
Jabeur, who is from Tunisia, advanced to the final by beating Tatjana Maria 6-2, 3-6, 6-1 on Thursday. Rybakina followed that match on the grass of Centre Court and defeated 2019 champion Simona Halep 6-3, 6-3.
"I didn't expect that I'm going to be here in the second week, especially in the final," said Rybakina, who was born in Russia but plays for Kazakhstan. "I believe that I have a game to go far in the Grand Slams. Of course, I believe that maybe one day I can win it."
This year's championship match at Wimbledon will be the first to feature two female first-time Grand Slam finalists since 1962, with Karen Susman beat V?ra Suková in straight sets.
A win for either Rybakina or Jabeur on Saturday will also be a first Grand Slam title won by a player from their respective countries.
Jabeur has been one of the best players on tour in recent months, rising to No. 2 in the rankings and winning a grass-court title in Berlin two weeks ago. Rybakina is ranked 23rd and has 13 victories over top-20 players.