NOVAK DJOKOVIC made sure the King of Clay Rafa Nadal won't be the God on Grass as he beat his rival to the Wimbledon final.
The three-times champ reached his fifth showpiece - and first since 2015 - in a simply superb Centre Court classic.
After Friday night's marathon it was the turn of part II of this sensational slogathon.
With Kevin Anderson needing six hours and 36 minutes to beat John Isner - Nadal and Djokovic's five hour and 17 minute scrap is now the second longest SW19 semi in history.
And even though it took two days to complete, Djokovic goes into Sunday's final as the red-hot favourite.
He said: "It's hard to pick the words.
"I am just going through things that flashback - the last 15 months, everything I have been through to get here, to win against the best player in the world in one of the longest matches I ever played. I am overwhelmed.
"It's very special. It really could have gone either way. It was clear very few things separated the two players. Until the last shot I didn't know if I was going to win.
"I believed it, but he was very close. These kind of matches you live for and work for."
As Wimbledon bathed in the summer heatwave and 27 degree temperatures - weirdly, the roof was kept closed.
Djokovic opted to keep the lid on the world's most-famous greenhouse, after starting the game under it on Friday night.
Although Spaniard Nadal wanted to be out in the sun.
Asked if it made sense having the roof closed, he said: "No.
"But I will not talk more about this. If not, you going to write about this, and I don't want you to write about this today."
This was Nadal and Djokovic episode no.52 - the biggest gladiatorial rivalry in the Open era.
Now Serbian slayer Djoko is two matches ahead at 27-25 thanks to this latest victory.
The first game after the re-start took a gripping 16 minutes to complete. And it was advantage Nadal as he then raced to a second game break.
The matador from Majorca ripped into his serve with raw aggression and pace.
He combined that brutal power game with a touch and feel around the net as delicate as the rogue butterfly that dangerously darted around his baseline.
But they were back on terms as Djokovic found his own break against the mighty Nadal serve.
When Nadal broke again to serve for the set, angry Djoko went rock and roll as he hammered his racket into his left foot in a bizarre and bonkers moment of rage.
Immediately afterwards it was Nadal beating himself up as he gifted the stroppy Serb three break points before earning a lifeline to square things at two sets all.
Even when he was in trouble the sledgehammer Nadal serve came out to put the pressure right back on Djokovic.
Djokovic dug deep to do the same when he was staring down the barrel of a gun with Nadal on the verge of a break at 4-4.
Winning six points in a row Djokovic had the finish line in sights - only for Nadal to pull the ribbon to wrestle back control.
Djokovic, 31, was erupting again as he blew a chance to break at 7-6 up.
Then Nadal had to save match point to take it to eights in the last.
But the 32-year-old couldn't do it again when needed to and was sent crashing out as he scrambled to reach Djokovic's returns.
Nadal said: "I think was a great show for the fans.
"Of course I am not happy with the final result. Of course, I am happy about being part of this match that has been a great one.
"Normally I am very critical with myself. I hit great shots. I played aggressive. I missed balls, not too many, but I missed some.
"When you play with that intensity, with that level of risk, that level of passion, sometimes you go over, no?
"I have nothing to complain about. I think I played a great match and I do not much more inside me. I give it my best, and that's it.
"It's fair to say that was a great match and he beat me. Well done for him. That's all. That's sport.
"These kind of matches between probably two great players, playing so well both of us, anything could happen. That's it. Today was for him. Well done."
If both Djokovic and Anderson have anything left in the tank for the final, then it could be another long-distance battle.