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Novak Djokovic will contest his fourth final at The Championships on Sunday, when he will meet Roger Federer or Andy Murray.
Top seed Djokovic, already a two-time titlist at the All England Club, defeated No. 21 seed Richard Gasquet 7-6(2), 6-4, 6-4 for a place in his 17th Grand Slam championship final.
Djokovic, who is now 12-1 lifetime against Gasquet in their FedEx ATP Head2Head series, has a 47-3 match record on the year.
"The first set was really close," said Djokovic. "I thought Richard played some really good tennis, especially from the backhand side. It was really difficult for me at times to play any kind of ball to his backhand side because he was really going for it, especially down the line. He made a lot of winners. He used the chipped backhand, slice variety as well... Winning the first set tie-break was psychologically very helpful for the rest of the match."
Early nerves for Gasquet in the opening exchanges, which resulted in Djokovic taking a 2-0 lead, were soon extinguished. Gasquet broke back immediately and kept his nerve in baseline rallies, targetting the backhand of the top seed. At 4-4, Gasquet came close to winning the first two points on Djokovic's serve but missed a smash with the court open.
Despite the heat, Gasquet hung in the long rallies and it appeared that Djokovic looked the more uncomfortable as the set headed towards a tie-break. At 2/2, Gasquet struck a backhand down the line long and lost his focus.
Gasquet was inconsistent in the second-set opener, gifting Djokovic points with groundstroke errors. Although Djokovic continued to slip on the grass, more than three yards behind the baseline, he was able to convert his second break point opportunity with a crosscourt forehand winner in a front of a net-rushing Gasquet.
Soon any short ball Gasquet struck, Djokovic dispatched it. Former kings of the lawn, Bjorn Borg, Rod Laver and Manuel Santana, nodded approvingly from the Royal Box. Djokovic received treatment a 5-4, during the changeover, for a left shoulder complaint but he soon took a commanding lead.
In the third set, Djokovic converted his second break point chance in the third game and maintained control. At 3-5, Gasquet saved one match point at 30/40, but Djokovic was not to be denied in his next service game. He will now look to equal his coach Boris Becker's mark of third Wimbledon titles on Sunday afternoon.
Gasquet, who was also a semi-finalist in 2007 (l. to Federer), dropped to a 26-9 match record in 2015. He'd beaten No. 11 seed Grigor Dimitrov, No. 26 seed Nick Kyrgios and No. 4 seed Stan Wawrinka en route to the final four.
"I tried to do my best," said Gasquet. "I played a good first set. I hit some great backhand... It was tough to do better. It was 2/2 [in the tie-break], then it was 7/2. It wasn't good. He never miss on some returns. He serves well. That's why he's World No. 1."
Second seed Federer, a seven-time former champion, and third seed and 2013 winner Andy Murray will contest the second semi-final on Friday.
Top seed Djokovic, already a two-time titlist at the All England Club, defeated No. 21 seed Richard Gasquet 7-6(2), 6-4, 6-4 for a place in his 17th Grand Slam championship final.
Djokovic, who is now 12-1 lifetime against Gasquet in their FedEx ATP Head2Head series, has a 47-3 match record on the year.
"The first set was really close," said Djokovic. "I thought Richard played some really good tennis, especially from the backhand side. It was really difficult for me at times to play any kind of ball to his backhand side because he was really going for it, especially down the line. He made a lot of winners. He used the chipped backhand, slice variety as well... Winning the first set tie-break was psychologically very helpful for the rest of the match."
Early nerves for Gasquet in the opening exchanges, which resulted in Djokovic taking a 2-0 lead, were soon extinguished. Gasquet broke back immediately and kept his nerve in baseline rallies, targetting the backhand of the top seed. At 4-4, Gasquet came close to winning the first two points on Djokovic's serve but missed a smash with the court open.
Despite the heat, Gasquet hung in the long rallies and it appeared that Djokovic looked the more uncomfortable as the set headed towards a tie-break. At 2/2, Gasquet struck a backhand down the line long and lost his focus.
Gasquet was inconsistent in the second-set opener, gifting Djokovic points with groundstroke errors. Although Djokovic continued to slip on the grass, more than three yards behind the baseline, he was able to convert his second break point opportunity with a crosscourt forehand winner in a front of a net-rushing Gasquet.
Soon any short ball Gasquet struck, Djokovic dispatched it. Former kings of the lawn, Bjorn Borg, Rod Laver and Manuel Santana, nodded approvingly from the Royal Box. Djokovic received treatment a 5-4, during the changeover, for a left shoulder complaint but he soon took a commanding lead.
In the third set, Djokovic converted his second break point chance in the third game and maintained control. At 3-5, Gasquet saved one match point at 30/40, but Djokovic was not to be denied in his next service game. He will now look to equal his coach Boris Becker's mark of third Wimbledon titles on Sunday afternoon.
Gasquet, who was also a semi-finalist in 2007 (l. to Federer), dropped to a 26-9 match record in 2015. He'd beaten No. 11 seed Grigor Dimitrov, No. 26 seed Nick Kyrgios and No. 4 seed Stan Wawrinka en route to the final four.
"I tried to do my best," said Gasquet. "I played a good first set. I hit some great backhand... It was tough to do better. It was 2/2 [in the tie-break], then it was 7/2. It wasn't good. He never miss on some returns. He serves well. That's why he's World No. 1."
Second seed Federer, a seven-time former champion, and third seed and 2013 winner Andy Murray will contest the second semi-final on Friday.