Spain's Carlos Alcaraz has delivered the Wimbledon final the world wants to see, with a brutal, and, at times, breathtaking, demolition job on unfortunate Russian Daniil Medvedev, roaring to a 6-3 6-3 6-3 victory.
The 20-year-old phenomenon will now face a battle of the generations against seven-time champion Novak Djokovic, 36, who earlier eased past Italian Jannik Sinner to reach his 35th Grand Slam final.
For seven games under the roof, this felt like it could be a contest, as third seed Medvedev - who like Alcaraz - was contesting his first Wimbledon semi-final, kept pace with the top seed.
From the moment Alcaraz broke the Medvedev serve for a 5-3 lead in the opening set, it felt like he had the grandest stage in tennis to himself with a virtuoso display.
Grand Slam semi-finals are supposed to be hard labour, but at times, world No.1 Alcaraz toyed with his opponent, working through his extensive arsenal of weapons to dismantle him in merciless fashion.
Two nonchalant service breaks sealed the second set and the Spaniard accelerated towards victory with another early in the third set, as Medvedev's shoulders slumped.
Like a lion toying with its prey, the top seed offered back a couple of service breaks with some over-casual tennis, but the respite was brief and Medvedev was put out of his misery in one hour and 50 minutes, as Alcaraz seized on a dropshot and whipped away a forehand winner.
He is the third Spaniard to reach the Wimbledon men's singles final, after Manuel Santana and Rafa Nadal, and the fourth youngest in the professional era.
Djokovic, who overwhelmed Alcaraz in the French Open semi-finals last month, is bidding for a record-equalling eighth Wimbledon crown to become the oldest men's champion and match Margaret Court's all-time record of 24 Grand Slams.
The Serbian has not lost on Centre Court for 10 years, but Alcaraz says he is ready for the challenge.
"Everybody knows it's going to be really difficult, but I will fight," said the reigning US Open champion. "I will believe that I can beat him here.
"It will be tough, but I'm ready for this. I dreamed of this since I started to play tennis, to play in a final here.
"It's not time to be afraid, I will go for it."
Djokovic barely got out of second gear, as he swept past subdued Italian eighth seed Jannik Sinner at Wimbledon, easing into the final with a whirlwind 6-3 6-4 7-6(4) victory under the Centre Court roof.
Sinner, 21, playing his first Grand Slam semi-final, was outclassed, falling flat on the big occasion and allowing Djokovic - 15 years his senior - to turn the screw at key moments in the contest.
He let breakpoints slip through his fingers, including two set points in the third, while Djokovic was clinical as usual, applying constant pressure on the Italian's serve and pouncing on opportunities when they arose.
Djokovic does not appear to be slowing down as the years pass and will be a heavy favourite to become the oldest man in the Open era, at 36, to win the Wimbledon title.
"I'd like to believe that's the case," he said, when asked if he was playing the best tennis of his career.
"We are part of an individual sport, so you have to rely on yourself, and put yourself in the best physical and mental state before heading out on court.
"I feel 36 is the new 26, it feels pretty good. I feel a lot of motivation."
Reuters
