Jannik Sinner recorded a statement 6-3 6-3 6-4 win over Novak Djokovic in the Wimbledon semi-finals, setting up a titanic rematch with his French Open conqueror Carlos Alcaraz.
Sinner squandered three championship points before losing to Alcaraz in a five-hour, 29-minute epic at Roland-Garros last month, and the world's top two players will do battle in another major final on Sunday.
In truth, Sinner was barely troubled by Djokovic, who had reached each of the last six Wimbledon finals but struggled with his movement after calling for treatment on his left thigh.
Djokovic was broken in the third game of the opening set, and though he was solid on serve from then on, he failed to apply any sustained pressure when returning.
Indeed, Sinner only gave up two points on his own serve throughout the first set, with the Italian's graceful movement and excellent shot-making keeping Djokovic on the back foot.
For all Sinner's brilliance, Djokovic was also far from his best, and two poor errors – including a rushed forehand that skewed wide – saw him broken again in game two of the second set.
A vocal crowd attempted to lift the 24-time grand slam winner, and though he dug deep to hold at 5-2 down, Sinner wrapped up the second set with an ace, prompting Djokovic to call for medical attention.
A stirring fightback looked to be in the offing at the start of the third set, with Djokovic approaching the net with increasing regularity as he took the first three games.
Djokovic even had a chance to go 4-0 up, but the momentum seemed to switch when Sinner saved break point with a downward smash.
Frustrated by that missed opportunity, Djokovic lost his way in the longer rallies and a series of mistakes – including one inexplicable overhead miss at the net – allowed Sinner to reel off five straight games.
By the closing stages, Djokovic was barely attempting to reach Sinner's booming serves, and the Serbian was standing off the court when his opponent sunk the winning forehand straight down the middle.
While the 38-year-old Djokovic received a rousing reception as he left SW19 for what could be the final time, Sinner was left to revel in a semi-final victory that was even more dominant than the one he managed over the Serbian at Roland-Garros.
Data Debrief: The passing of the torch?
For the last couple of years, tennis fans have speculated whether Sinner and Alcaraz will be able to replicate the rivalries that played out between the "Big Three" of Djokovic, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal.
And following their Roland-Garros epic, Sinner and Alcaraz will become just the second pair to meet in the men's singles final at the French Open and Wimbledon in the same year.
Federer and Nadal did so on three occasions between 2006 and 2008, with Federer winning two Wimbledon titles. Nadal triumphed three times at Roland-Garros and once at SW19 in that time.
At the age of 23 years and 318 days, Sinner is the second-youngest man to reach finals at all four majors in the Open Era, older only than Jim Courier (22 years, 308 days), while he is the youngest to make four consecutive grand slam finals.
While final opponent Alcaraz leads their head-to-head 8-4, Sinner has recorded one of the most dominant Wimbledon campaigns in history, only dropping 56 games en route to the final.
Only Federer (52 in 2006), Jimmy Connors (54 in 1975) and John McEnroe (54 in 1982) have ever dropped fewer in the men's draw, with the former duo both lifting the trophy in their respective years.
