Rafael Nadal vs Novak Djokovic Wimbledon Match Rescheduled

MIKAEL McKENZIE

 Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic will have to return today to finish their Wimbledon semi final clash.

Nadal and Djokovic suffered a heavy delay getting onto Centre Court on Friday because Kevin Anderson’s victory against John Isner lasted six hours and 36 minutes. It took 50 games of the fifth set for the pair to finally be separated as Anderson broke for the first time in the set.

But that meant Nadal and Djokovic did not begin their on-court warm-ups until gone eight o’clock after Wimbledon grounds staff also had to close the roof.

Restrictions imposed by the council meant play was paused at 11pm with Djokovic ahead 6-4, 3-6, 7-6(9). Play will resume at 1pm on Centre Court and the roof will remain closed regardless of the weather.

Serena Williams and Angelique Kerber will therefore likely be delayed so will have to wait to start the women’s final, which was down to commence at 2pm.

Djokovic shot out of the blocks against Nadal and won a number of points on the Spaniard’s serve. The Serbian got his deserved breakthrough in the seventh game before holding serve for the remainder of the set to win 6-4. The second set was full of twists and turns as Nadal broke twice – once more than Djokovic – to level the scores at one set all.

Both players were more resolute on serve in the third and they refused to be broke as they headed into a nervy tiebreak. And there were mini-breaks aplenty as Nadal edged ahead for an overnight lead.

The duo will have to resume play on Saturday – just 24 hours before the final.

And Isner was outraged that the pair were kept waiting all day and has demanded Wimbledon look into their fifth-set policy.

“I agree with Kevin. I personally think a sensible option would be 12-all,” he said.

“Can’t finish them off, if one person can’t finish the other off before 12-all, then do a tiebreaker there. I think it’s long overdue.

“I mean, I’m a big part of that, a big part of this discussion, of course.

“Rafa and Djokovic, I don’t even know, can they finish tonight? Isn’t there some curfew? I don’t know. They’re getting on the court at 8:15, whatever it is. We’re out there playing for seven hours. You know, it’s tough.

“I’m a proponent of changing that rule, for sure. I think it needs to be done.”