Federer, Djokovic set for Wimbledon final

The old guard of men’s tennis isn’t ready to be overthrown just yet.

Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer kept an uprising from the next generation at bay as they swept aside younger opponents in Friday’s Wimbledon semi-finals.

It set up mouth-watering showdown for the title on Sunday in what will be the pair’s 35th duel and second in a major final.

A gritty Djokovic overcame Bulgarian 11th seed Grigor Dimitrov 6-4 3-6 7-6 (7-2) 7-6 (9-7) before Federer dispatched big-serving Canadian eighth seed Milos Raonic in clinical fashion, 6-4 6-4 6-4.

The rise of 23-year-olds Dimitrov and Raonic, along with the remarkable emergence of Australian quarter-finalist Nick Kyrgios, had many talking about a changing of the guard this week.

The premature exits of defending champion Andy Murray and world No.1 Rafael Nadal strengthened that theory but Federer and Djokovic showed the game’s up-and-comers there’s still a way to go to threaten the seniors’ stranglehold on the majors.

“It was always going to be hard to get rid of all four guys at the same time, let’s just be honest,” Federer said.

“But I am happy to see those guys are knocking on the door now more consistently.

“Milos and Grigor both have been around for a while but Kyrgios is a totally different situation.

“We hope we have more of the Kyrgios-type teenagers coming through.”

A beaten Dimitrov, though, is convinced significant change is afoot.

“We’re already in that space, if you think about it,” said Dimitrov, coached by Australian Roger Rasheed.

“Quarters, semis. It’s just a matter of jumping over that next hurdle.”

Swiss fourth seed Federer will battle for an historic 18th grand slam title and eighth Wimbledon championship at the age of 32.

Top seed Djokovic is bidding for a second Wimbledon crown and trying to arrest a slump in grand slam finals, with the Serb losing five of his past six.

Djokovic, the 2011 champion, rarely hit peak form in a patchy semi-final on Centre Court, but showed all his battling qualities to overcome Dimitrov in a three hour and two minute war of attrition.

The Serb’s last grand slam title came at the 2013 Australian Open and he admits his recent record in finals is providing motivation ahead of Sunday.

“Losing grand slam finals, it cannot be satisfying,” Djokovic said.

“I don’t want to sound like I’m not appreciating to play finals of a grand slam. It’s already a huge result.

“But I know that I can win the title.”

Federer had almost four hours less on court than Djokovic in a seamless run to the semis and he again kept things straight forward with a classy victory over Raonic.

The Canadian, who defeated Kyrgios in the quarter-finals, hit 17 aces to six bit Federer excelled in every other area as he won in one hour and 41 minutes.

Federer becomes the oldest man to make a grand slam final since Andre Agassi reached the 2005 Australian Open final at the age of 33.

He will take an 18-16 career lead over Djokovic into Sunday’s championship match.

“Novak and myself always play good matches,” Federer said.

“He is a great champion and is used to these occasions.

“I know I don’t have 10 years left, so I’m going to try and enjoy it as much as I can.

“That I get another chance to go through these kinds of emotions is great.”

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