Djokovic edges ahead of Nadal in semi-final thriller

Novak Djokovic clawed his way to a two sets to one lead over great rival Rafael Nadal under the Centre Court roof before their scintillating Wimbledon semi-final was paused with the contest balanced on a knife-edge on Friday.

With the clock slipping past 11pm -- the official curfew time for action at the All England Club to end for the day -- Djokovic survived three set points in a gripping tiebreak before outlasting Nadal in a 17-stroke rally to edge ahead in the match.

Battle will resume at 1200GMT on Saturday with the Serbian three-time champion 6-4 3-6 7-6(9) ahead and needing one more set to book a Sunday showdown with South African Kevin Anderson.

The eighth seed earlier won the longest-ever Wimbledon semi-final in a test of endurance with American John Isner that finished 26-24 in the fifth set after six hours and 36 minutes.

Following a three-year wait for Djokovic and Nadal to continue their Grand Slam rivalry and then an afternoon caged in the locker room while the Anderson and Isner marathon unfolded, they were finally let loose at gone 8pm with the roof closed.

With David Attenborough, the doyen of countless BBC nature documentaries, a guest in the Royal Box, the two players tore into each other from the start like hungry lions.

Nearly three punishing hours later they both left Centre Court with their title hopes still intact.