And in breaking news from Centre Court, Novak Djokovic has reached the Wimbledon final. Again.

How had we ever doubted him?

Fair enough, he was still recovering from medial meniscus surgery on his right knee. No one could ignore the fact that he was 37 years old. And his record this season has been, by his standards, distinctly ordinary.

But why did we ever think he was anything but one of the favourites for the final?

Djokovic and his gammy knee strode purposefully past Lorenzo Musetti 6-4, 7-6(2), 6-4 with no hint of a limp and no sign of weakness. He was his usual, imperious self on the court he has made his own over the past decade.

“I’m obviously very, very pleased and satisfied to get to another final but I don’t want to stop there,” he said ominously. Ah. Djokovic was only just getting started.

Musetti had looked so relaxed and happy as he practised on Centre Court in the morning (he had not set foot on the court throughout The Championships so he was allowed to get a feel for the conditions before play began). Posing for photographs with his team, he was beaming from ear to ear.

Six hours later, he looked as nervous as a kitten as he led Djokovic through the doors under the Royal Box. This was his first Grand Slam semi-final and here he was playing on the most famous court in the world against, statistically, the greatest player in history.

As ever, Djokovic was attempting to rip up another handful of chapters in the history books.

Victory would mean a sixth Grand Slam final since turning 35 (equalling Ken Rosewall’s record); he would reach his third Wimbledon final since turning 35 (no man has done that in the Open era), he would be into his 37th Grand Slam final (breaking his own record) and his 10th Wimbledon final (only Roger Federer reached more with 12). And just for good measure, the Serb had only lost two Grand Slam semi-finals since the start of 2015. Two out of 24.

Against such overwhelming evidence of Djokovic’s genius, it was no wonder Musetti was nervous.

Before the match, Todd Woodbridge, a man who knows about winning on these courts, had offered a bit of advice: if Djokovic’s knee is still ailing after surgery a month ago then bring him forward and then hit behind him.

To run, slam on the brakes and then turn on a sixpence will put pressure on that bandaged joint. And if that sounded mean – like kicking a chap when he is down – Woodbridge pointed out that everyone was here to win, not to be nice.

That was a great idea but how to do it?

The problem for Musetti was that he had been playing mere mortals in the previous five rounds. Good players, all of them, but mortal. Against them, he could play his game; he could move his opponent around, he could outmanoeuvre and outwit them.

In Djokovic, he faced a juggernaut with a bat. The 37-year-old with the bandaged knee was stronger in the long baseline rallies, faster to the net (15 of 16 net points won in the first set and 43 of 56 overall) and brutally, ruthlessly efficient in putting away the winner.

That took care of the first 40 minutes and presented the former champion with the first of two set points. He fluffed the first with a wayward forehand which gave the Italian a jolt of confidence and belief. He broke serve. But five minutes later, Djokovic had snapped the Musetti serve and was a set to the good.

For the next 20, glorious minutes Musetti was on fire. He was slicing and dicing, mixing drop shots with thumping groundstrokes and he was in the lead. The eye-popping crosscourt backhand pass, played on the run from the furthest reaches of the court and coming at the end of 15-stroke rally, had everyone on their feet applauding. Djokovic included. Musetti had held for 3-1. Game on.

And then Djokovic did what Djokovic does: he ripped the momentum from Musetti’s racket and put a stranglehold on the set.

The Italian did not fold, he did not go away, but Djokovic was not going to let him pass. Relentless hitting, razor-sharp returns, clutch serving – the world No.2’s attack was clinical and deadly.

When he took the early lead in the third set, there was no way back for his rival, no matter how hard he tried. Musetti was being kept at arm’s length as Djokovic made his way to yet another final.

To put even more of a shine on his performance, the record-breaking Serb had just won his 375th Grand Slam match, more than any man or woman in history. And he’s still got another match to go.