Novak Djokovic withstood a ferocious onslaught from Juan Martin Del Potro to subdue the Argentinian 7-5 4-6 7-6 (2) 6-7 (6) 6-3 in a titanic Wimbledon semi-final on Friday.

The top seed needed all his skill and fighting spirit to tame the eighth-seeded Del Potro who made light of his knee injury to keep the world number one on court for four hours 43 minutes, the longest semi-final ever seen at Wimbledon.

Djokovic broke in the 12th game of the first set to win it 7-5 but Del Potro took the Serbian’s serve midway through the second set and levelled the match on a baking Centre Court.

Del Potro saved three set points at 5-6 in the third but Djokovic stepped up his level to romp through the tiebreak 7-2.

The top seed struck again with a break in the seventh game of the fourth set but Del Potro broke straight back and saved two match points in an incredible tiebreak before taking it 8-6.

Djokovic broke again to lead 5-3 in the deciding set and he recovered from 0-30 down to seal victory with a searing backhand down the line.