Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz set up the Wimbledon final the world wants to see with a brutal demolition job on Russia’s Daniil Medvedev on Friday, racing to a 6-3, 6-3, 6-3 victory.

The 20-year-old phenomenon will now face a battle of the generations against 36-year-old seven-time champion Novak Djokovic, who earlier on Centre Court eased past Italian Jannik Sinner to reach his 35th Grand Slam final.

For seven games under the roof this felt like it could be a contest as third seed Medvedev, who like Alcaraz was contesting his first Wimbledon semi-final, kept pace with the top seed. But from the moment Alcaraz broke the Medvedev serve for a 5-3 lead in the opening set it felt as though he had the grandest stage in tennis to himself with a virtuoso display.

At times it looked as though Alcaraz was toying with his opponent, working through his extensive arsenal of weapons to dismantle the 27-year-old in merciless fashion.

Two nonchalant service breaks sealed the second set and the Spaniard accelerated towards victory with another one early in the third set as Medvedev’s shoulders slumped.

Like a lion toying with its prey, Alcaraz offered back a couple of service breaks with some over-casual tennis but the respite was brief and an out-classed Medvedev was put out of his misery in one hour and 50 minutes.

Alcaraz is the third Spaniard to reach the Wimbledon men’s singles final after Manuel Santana and Rafael Nadal and the fourth youngest in the professional era.

‘36 the new 26’

Earlier, Djokovic barely got out of second gear as he swept past a subdued Jannik Sinner, easing into a record 35th grand slam final with a whirlwind 6-3, 6-4, 7-6(4) victory on Friday.

Djokovic is now one win away from a record-equalling eighth title at the grasscourt major to match the mark of Roger Federer. He is also bidding to become the oldest men’s singles champion and match Margaret Court’s all-time record of 24 Grand Slams.

“I try not to look at age as a hindrance or a factor that might decide the outcome on the court,” said Djokovic after the win. “To the contrary, actually, I feel 36 is the new 26, I guess. It feels good.

“The scoreline maybe doesn’t give the reality of what was happening on the court. It was super close,” he added.

Written with inputs from Reuters