With his chest puffed, one hand on his Head Graphene racquet, one hand to his ear, Novak Djokovic turned to the crowd, inviting both its praise and opprobrium.

On this occasion, it was rapturous applause that met the world No 1 as he prowled his baseline, eyes bulging, heart throbbing, a sense of destiny hovering above his head. After a 45-shot rally, the longest of the match, it was Djokovic – who else? – who had emerged on top to save a second break point in the seventh game of the third set. This was to be the beginning of the end for his opponent, Roberto Bautista Agut. This was the moment that this match turned. This was Novak Djokovic in all his ferocious glory as he consolidated his grip on this semi-final before pushing on for the hardest-fought win of his Wimbledon campaign.

After four absorbing sets of tennis – in which the reigning champion was pushed and poked by the world No 22 – it was Djokovic, a four-time champion here at the All England Club, who eventually claimed a 6-2 4-6 6-3 6-2 victory in front of the Centre Court masses.

It was hardly his most assured performance of the Championships – such was the challenge posed by the 31-year-old Spaniard – but once momentum had swung Djokovic’s way in the third set, there was no looking back for the top seed as he pushed on to secure his place in a sixth Wimbledon final.

The pair were meeting for the third time this year, with Bautista Agut having won both their meetings in 2019 – in the semi-finals at Doha, where he went on to win the title, and in the third round at Miami-1000.

Wimbledon champions since 2000 Show all 38 1 /38 Wimbledon champions since 2000 Wimbledon champions since 2000 Pete Sampras, 2000 WIMBLEDON, UNITED KINGDOM: US Pete Sampras kisses the Gentlemen's Singles trophy after winning his final match against Australian Patrick Rafter in Wimbledon 09 July 2000. Sampras won in 6-7, 7-6, 6-4, 6-2. (ELECTRONIC IMAGE) PHOTO GERRY PENNY (Photo credit should read GERRY PENNY/AFP/Getty Images) AFP/Getty Images Wimbledon champions since 2000 Venus Williams, 2000 8 Jul 2000: Venus Williams of the USA with the Wimbledon trophy after beating Lindsay Davenport of the USA during the final of the womens singles in the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championship at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, Wimbledon, London. Mandatory Credit: Clive Brunskill/ALLSPORT Getty Images Wimbledon champions since 2000 Goran Ivanisevic, 2001 9 Jul 2001: Goran Ivanisevic of Croatia celebrates winning match point during the men's final of the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championship held at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, in Wimbledon, London. \ Mandatory Credit: Gary M Prior/Allsport Getty Images Wimbledon champions since 2000 Venus Williams, 2001 LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM - JULY 08: WIMBLEDON 2001, Finale, London; Siegerin Venus WILLIAMS/USA (Photo by Bongarts/Getty Images) Bongarts/Getty Images Wimbledon champions since 2000 Lleyton Hewitt, 2002 WIMBLEDON - 7 JULY: Lleyton Hewitt of Australia lifts the trophy after victory over David Nalbandian of Argentina in the Men's Singles Final of the Lawn Tennis Championships at the All England Club in Wimbledon, England. Hewitt won 6-1. 6-3, 6-2. (photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images) Getty Images Wimbledon champions since 2000 Serena Williams, 2002 WIMBLEDON, UNITED KINGDOM: US Serena Williams holds the trophy after winning the Women's final against her sister Venus at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships, 06 July 2002. Serena won 7-6 and 6-3. It is the first time in 118 years that sisters have met in the final at Wimbledon. AFP PHOTO GERRY PENNY (Photo credit should read GERRY PENNY/AFP/Getty Images) AFP/Getty Images Wimbledon champions since 2000 Roger Federer, 2003 LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM - JULY 06: Wimbledon 2003, London; Maenner/Einzel/Finale; Sieger Roger FEDERER/SUI (Photo by Bongarts/Getty Images) Bongarts/Getty Images Wimbledon champions since 2000 Serena Williams, 2003 LONDON - JULY 5: (FILE PHOTO) This file photo shows Serena Williams (L) of the USA holding the trophy after her match against sister Venus Williams of the USA in the Womens Singles Final during day twelve of the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championships held on July 5, 2003 at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, in Wimbledon, London. Yetunde Price, older sister and personal assistant to Venus and Serena Williams was fatally shot September 14, 2003 outside Compton, California. Police have surrounded the suspects but have not yet made any arrests. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images) Getty Images Wimbledon champions since 2000 Roger Federer, 2004 LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM - JULY 04: Tennis / Maenner: Wimbledon 2004, London; Finale; Schlussjubel Sieger Roger FEDERER / SUI 04.07.04. (Photo by Bongarts/Bongarts/Getty Images) Bongarts/Getty Images Wimbledon champions since 2000 Maria Sharapova, 2004 LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM - JULY 03: Tennis / Frauen: Wimbledon 2004, London; Finale; Siegerin Maria SHARAPOVA / RUS 03.07.04. (Photo by Bongarts/Bongarts/Getty Images) Bongarts/Getty Images Wimbledon champions since 2000 Roger Federer, 2005 LONDON - JULY 03: Roger Federer (L) of Switzerland shares a joke with Chris Gorringe after winning in straight sets against Andy Roddick of the USA in the Mens Singles final during the thirteenth day of the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championship on July 3, 2005 at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in London. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images) Getty Images Wimbledon champions since 2000 Venus Williams, 2005 LONDON, United Kingdom: Venus Williams of the US celebrates defeating Lindsay Davenport of the US after their women's final match at the 119th Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London, 02 July, 2005. Williams won 4-6, 7-6, 9-7. AFP PHOTO/ADRIAN DENNIS (Photo credit should read ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP/Getty Images) AFP/Getty Images Wimbledon champions since 2000 Roger Federer, 2006 LONDON, United Kingdom: Switzerland's Roger Federer celebrates his fourth consecutive Wimbledon Championships title at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in Wimbledon, in south London, 09 July 2006. Federer beat Spain's Rafael Nadal. AFP PHOTO/CARL DE SOUZA (Photo credit should read CARL DE SOUZA/AFP/Getty Images) AFP/Getty Images Wimbledon champions since 2000 Amelie Mauresmo, 2006 LONDON - JULY 08: Amelie Mauresmo of France holds the trophy after winning the match over Justine Henin-Hardenne of Belgium during the women's final match on day twelve of the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on July 8, 2006 in London, England. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images) Getty Images Wimbledon champions since 2000 Roger Federer, 2007 London, UNITED KINGDOM: Swiss Roger Federer kisses the trophy after defeating Spanish Rafael Nadal in men's final at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in Wimbledon, in south London, 08 July 2007. Roger Federer won the Wimbledon men's singles title for the fifth successive year with a 7-6 (9/7), 4-6, 7-6 (7/3), 2-6, 6-2 victory over Rafael Nadal. AFP PHOTO / JOE KLAMAR (Photo credit should read JOE KLAMAR/AFP/Getty Images) AFP/Getty Images Wimbledon champions since 2000 Venus Williams, 2007 LONDON - JULY 07: Venus Williams of USA poses with the trophy following her victory during the Women's Singles final match against Marion Bartoli of France during day twelve of the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on July 7, 2007 in London, England. Williams won 6-4, 6-1. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images) Getty Wimbledon champions since 2000 Rafael Nadal, 2008 Spain's Rafael Nadal bites his trophy after defeating Switzerland's Roger Federer during their final tennis match of the 2008 Wimbledon championships against at The All England Tennis Club in southwest London, on July 6, 2008. Nadal won 6-4, 6-4, 6-7, 6-7, 9-7. AFP PHOTO / ADRIAN DENNIS (Photo credit should read ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP/Getty Images) AFP/Getty Images Wimbledon champions since 2000 Venus Williams, 2008 LONDON - JULY 05: Venus Williams of United States celebrates winning the Championship trophy during the women's singles Final match against Serena Williams of United States on day twelve of the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on July 5, 2008 in London, England. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images) Getty Images Wimbledon champions since 2000 Roger Federer, 2009 WIMBLEDON, ENGLAND - JULY 05: Roger Federer of Switzerland celebrates victory with the trophy after the men's singles final match against Andy Roddick of USA on Day Thirteen of the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on July 5, 2009 in London, England. Federer won 5-7, 7-6, 7-6, 3-6, 16-14. (Photo by Paul Gilham/Getty Images) Getty Images Wimbledon champions since 2000 Serena Williams, 2009 WIMBLEDON, ENGLAND - JULY 04: Serena Williams of USA celebrates with the Championship trophy after the women's singles final match against Venus Williams of USA on Day Twelve of the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on July 4, 2009 in London, England. Serena Williams of USA won 7-6, 6-2. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images) Getty Images Wimbledon champions since 2000 Rafael Nadal, 2010 LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 04: Rafael Nadal of Spain holds the Championship trophy after winning the Men's Singles Final match against Tomas Berdych of Czech Republic on Day Thirteen of the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on July 4, 2010 in London, England. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images) Getty Images Wimbledon champions since 2000 Serena Williams, 2010 LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 03: Serena Williams of USA holds the Championship trophy after winning her Ladies Singles Final Match against Vera Zvonareva of Russia on Day Twelve of the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on July 3, 2010 in London, England. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images) Getty Images Wimbledon champions since 2000 Novak Djokovic, 2011 LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 03: Novak Djokovic of Serbia kisses the championship trophy after winning his final round Gentlemen's match against Rafael Nadal of Spain on Day Thirteen of the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on July 3, 2011 in London, England. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images) Getty Images Wimbledon champions since 2000 Petra Kvitova, 2011 LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 02: Petra Kvitova of the Czech Republic holds up the Championship trophy after winning her Ladies' final round match against Maria Sharapova of Russia on Day Twelve of the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on July 2, 2011 in London, England. Kvitova won 6-3 6-4. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images) Getty Images Wimbledon champions since 2000 Roger Federer, 2012 LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 08: Roger Federer of Switzerland kisses the winner's trophy after winning his Gentlemen's Singles final match against Andy Murray of Great Britain on day thirteen of the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on July 8, 2012 in London, England. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images) Getty Images Wimbledon champions since 2000 Serena Williams, 2012 LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 07: Serena Williams of the USA lifts the winners trophy and celebrates after her Ladiesâ Singles final match against Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland on day twelve of the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on July 7, 2012 in London, England. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images) Getty Images Wimbledon champions since 2000 Andy Murray, 2013 LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 07: Andy Murray of Great Britain poses with the Gentlemen's Singles Trophy following his victory in the Gentlemen's Singles Final match against Novak Djokovic of Serbia on day thirteen of the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on July 7, 2013 in London, England. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images) Getty Images Wimbledon champions since 2000 Marion Bartoli, 2013 LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 06: Marion Bartoli of France poses with the Venus Rosewater Dish trophy after her victory in the Ladies' Singles final match against Sabine Lisicki of Germany on day twelve of the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on July 6, 2013 in London, England. (Photo by Dennis Grombkowski/Getty Images) Getty Images Wimbledon champions since 2000 Novak Djokovic, 2014 Serbia's Novak Djokovic holds the winner's trophy after beating Switzerland's Roger Federer in the men's singles final match during the presentation on day thirteen of the 2014 Wimbledon Championships at The All England Tennis Club in Wimbledon, southwest London, on July 6, 2014. Djokovic won his second Wimbledon title and seventh career major with a 6-7 (7/9), 6-4, 7-6 (7/4), 5-7, 6-4 victory over Roger Federer Sunday, shattering the Swiss star's dream of a record eighth triumph in a titanic struggle. AFP PHOTO / CARL COURT - RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE / AFP PHOTO / CARL COURT (Photo credit should read CARL COURT/AFP/Getty Images) AFP/Getty Images Wimbledon champions since 2000 Petra Kvitova, 2014 Czech Republic's Petra Kvitova celebrates after winning the women's singles final match against Canada's Eugenie Bouchard on day twelve of the 2014 Wimbledon Championships at The All England Tennis Club in Wimbledon, southwest London, on July 5, 2014. Kvitova stormed to her second Wimbledon title in the shortest women's final at the All England Club since 1983 as the Czech sixth seed crushed Canada's Eugenie Bouchard 6-3, 6-0. AFP PHOTO / GLYN KIRK - RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE (Photo credit should read GLYN KIRK/AFP/Getty Images) AFP/Getty Images Wimbledon champions since 2000 Novak Djokovic, 2015 LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 12: Novak Djokovic of Serbia eats the centre court grass after winning the Final Of The Gentlemen's Singles against Roger Federer of Switzerland on day thirteen of the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on July 12, 2015 in London, England. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images) Getty Images Wimbledon champions since 2000 Serena Williams, 2015 LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 11: Serena Williams of the United States celebrates with the Venus Rosewater Dish after her victory in the Final Of The Ladies' Singles against Garbine Muguruza of Spain during day twelve of the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on July 11, 2015 in London, England. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images) Getty Images Wimbledon champions since 2000 Andy Murray, 2016 LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 10: Andy Murray of Great Britain celebrates victory during the Men's Singles Final against Milos Raonic of Canada on day thirteen of the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on July 10, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images) Getty Images Wimbledon champions since 2000 Serena Williams, 2016 LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 09: Serena Williams of The United States celebrates victory following The Ladies Singles Final against Angelique Kerber of Germany on day twelve of the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on July 9, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images) Getty Images Wimbledon champions since 2000 Roger Federer, 2017 LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 16: Roger Federer of Switzerland celebrates victory with the trophy after the Gentlemen's Singles final against Marin Cilic of Croatia on day thirteen of the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club at Wimbledon on July 16, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images) Getty Images Wimbledon champions since 2000 Garbine Muguruza, 2017 LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 15: Garbine Muguruza of Spain celebrates victory with the trophy after the Ladies Singles final against Venus Williams of The United States on day twelve of the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club at Wimbledon on July 15, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images) Getty Images Wimbledon champions since 2000 Novak Djokovic, 2018 LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 15: Novak Djokovic of Serbia kisses the trophy after winning the Men's Singles final against Kevin Anderson of South Africa on day thirteen of the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championships at All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on July 15, 2018 in London, England. (Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images) Getty Images Wimbledon champions since 2000 Angelique Kerber, 2018 LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 14: Angelique Kerber of Germany kisses the Venus Rosewater Dish as she poses for photographs after defeating Serena Williams of The United States in the Ladies' Singles final on day twelve of the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championships at All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on July 14, 2018 in London, England. (Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images) Getty Images

But making his first appearance in a Grand Slam semi-final, it was the the Spaniard who looked unsettled and nervous in the opening encounters of this match. What was routine for Djokovic represented uncharted territory for the 31-year-old challenger.

As such, it came as little surprise to see Bautista Agut broken at the first time of asking. With the Spaniard haemorrhaging points on an error-strewn forehand, Djokovic quickly rushed to two break points. Bautista Agut did the rest, sending a forehand shot well beyond the baseline to hand his opponent a first crucial break.

It wasn’t until 3-0 that the world No 22, just about holding serve, finally got his name on the board after Djokovic overcooked a backhand sweep.

Despite this, the Spaniard still looked out of his depth as he struggled on throughout the opening set, unable to find his footing against the whirlwind of shots – dropped slices, deft volleys, forehand winners – flooding his court.

And so, with 36 minutes on the clock, the second break was inflicted to hand Djokovic the first set. The deciding point was an innocuous error from the Spaniard but the one that preceded it highlighted the gulf in quality the separated these two men at this stage in the match.

After Bautista Agut had dropped over a soft volley into his opponent’s forecourt, the world No 1 put on the burners to rush from his baseline and meet the ball with a flicked backhand, driving it down the narrow corridor between the Spaniard and the white line to his right. It was a remarkable conjunction of athleticism and precision, and suggested that things were only going to get worse for the challenger.

Except, well, they didn’t. After offering little bite in the first frame, Bautista Agut finally sprung into life during the second set to make something of this match.

The error count dropped, the feet work improved and the hitting became cleaner, stronger, more purposeful. By the third game, with his opponent struggling to maintain his intensity, the Spaniard at last had his break, sealing matters with a thumping forehand winner across court.

From here, Djokovic’s game threatened to unravel. It was his turn to throw away simple points as he frequently netted and pulled his baseline shots wide. Twice he changed his racquet, seemingly unsatisfied with the tool at his disposal. And the careless abandon he had showcased in venturing off his baseline was long gone.

Although there was to be no more breaks, the Serbian looked half the man who had rattled his way through the opening 36 minutes. It naturally followed, then, that this would be Bautista Agut’s set for the taking. Keeping his cool on his serve at 5-4, and with a helping hand from the white tape, the 31-year-old held on to level the match.

The Spaniard put up a fight but it wasn't enough to stop Djokovic (AFP/Getty Images)

A sense of equilibrium crept into the third set as both men settled into a rhythm with their movement and shot-making. The second game notably saw two marathon rallies open up, with the players each claiming a point: the Serbian hitting an overhead smash in the first, the Spaniard firing a forehand winner down the line that left his opponent rooted to the spot.

It wasn’t until the sixth game, with this set at 3-2, that the balance was eventually broken – and it was Djokovic who drew blood. After taking proceedings to break point, the world No 1 seized his opportunity with a forehand smash, letting out a defiant roar to the crowd to suggest that the malaise of the second set was firmly behind him.

This emotion reached its full-blooded climax in the following game, in what proved to be the moment that Bautista Agut’s resistance was broken. As Djokovic turned to the crowds after the back of that exhausting rally, you knew what was coming. There was only one way this match would end.