Novak Djokovic 'dismantled' David Goffin's game to cruise into a ninth Wimbledon semi-final - but the match will be remembered for a sensational 'double hotdog'.
The defending champion, who is chasing a fifth title here and a 16th Grand Slam crown, was an early break down but from there was utterly ruthless, winning 10 games in a row across the three sets in a 6-4 6-0 6-2 victory.
Among male players, only Roger Federer and Jimmy Connors have reached the last four on more occasions, and Djokovic will be a heavy favourite to make a sixth final when he takes on Spaniard Roberto Bautista Agut on Friday.
🌭🌭 Back-to-back hot dogs!
— Sporting Life (@SportingLife) July 10, 2019
👌🎾 Novak Djokovic and David Goffin turned on the style with this ridiculous rally at #Wimbledon today! pic.twitter.com/2upLZYWECY
For eight games, this was a terrific contest. Goffin, in his first quarter-final at SW19, came out hitting the ball exceptionally cleanly and seemingly determined to take the match to the defending champion.
He secured the first break of serve in the seventh game but was unable to back it up and from there did not win another game until he was 1-0 down in the third set.
Djokovic could not have been happier with his performance, saying: "I've been playing my best tennis in this tournament in the last two rounds. Especially today, second set and third set against Goffin, who was in form, I felt like I managed to dismantle his game and find always the right shots.
"I'm very pleased with the performance. This match could have gone a different way. I was a break down. He was the better player for most of the first set.
"But I managed to turn things around. I feel very good on the court; confident, going for the shots, trying to come to the net, as well, be more aggressive, use the short balls. Hopefully the serve also can be consistent because I'm going to need that."
Will anyone be able to stop the defending champion?
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 10, 2019
@DjokerNole’s 70th win at #Wimbledon sees the Serbian reach his ninth semi-final at The Championships after beating David Goffin pic.twitter.com/qSIPNWUz6z
There were still moments of brilliance from Goffin, such as the tweener lob, returned less successfully by a tweener from his opponent, in the opening game of the second set.
But Djokovic was playing at a level of consistent excellence that Goffin simply could not match.
The 21st seed double-faulted to hand Djokovic yet another break for 3-1 in the third set.
The extraordinary dominance of the big three of men's tennis has been a story not just of their remarkable talents but also their competitive desire, and Djokovic roared after saving two break points in the next game.
It was all over soon after, and Goffin was left feeling rather battered and bruised.
🇬🇧🎾 #Wimbledon semi-finals reached
— Sporting Life (@SportingLife) July 10, 2019
1⃣3⃣ Federer
9⃣ Djokovic
7⃣ Nadal
1⃣ Bautista Agut
🏟️🎾 Grand Slam semi-finals reached
4⃣5⃣ Federer
3⃣6⃣ Djokovic
3⃣2⃣ Nadal
1⃣ Bautista Agut pic.twitter.com/8FKDr2A7Ud
"It was tough," he said. "Even if I had game points, he was serving better. Every point is tough. You have to play the perfect point to win it against him.
"Then he's returning at your feet all the time. He puts you under pressure all the time. Even if you play well, it's not enough because he continues, continues, to play deep, deep, close to the line, left, right. Amazing backhand down the line, as well. He was everywhere."
Djokovic will face Roberto Bautista Agut, who reached his first grand slam semi-final with a 7-5 6-4 3-6 6-3 victory over Argentina's Guido Pella - although this now means he'll have to put his stag do on hold.
Grass is not Bautista Agut's strongest surface, so much to the point that he arranged his stag do to be held in the second week of the tournament.
The 31-year-old should be in Ibiza with his friends as he prepares for his November wedding, but is preferring life in London at the minute, ahead of his semi-final clash with Novak Djokovic.
He said: "I had planned to be in Ibiza right now. We had everything organised already.
"My friends, six of them, are all there. Well, it feels better to be here in London.
"I think they will fly on Friday. I will get married in November if everything works out well."
😲💷 Who backed Roberto Bautista Agut to win #Wimbledon?
— Sporting Life (@SportingLife) July 10, 2019
👏 He was 300/1 in places pre-tournament and now he's reached his first ever Grand Slam semi-final!
🏆 Now he's 25/1 if you fancy him going all the way! pic.twitter.com/dPJSJbnyGt