Andy Murray set up another Wimbledon showdown with Roger Federer - only this time for a gold medal - with a superb 7-5 7-5 victory over Novak Djokovic in the semi-finals of the men's singles at the Olympics.
The British number one is now certain of at least a silver but could go even better than that if he can defeat the man who denied him a maiden grand slam at SW19 last month.
The 25-year-old from Scotland simply picked up from where he left off in his quarter-final victory over Nicolas Almagro, creating two break-point chances in Djokovic's opening service game.
Although he wasn't able to capitalise on either of those occasions, Murray seized his opportunity in the 12th game when he produced a curling forehand pass to take a 1-0 lead in a high-quality encounter.
Murray had to save break points in both his first two service games at the start of the next as the second-seeded Djokovic piled on the pressure.
Again in the ninth the home favourite found himself under pressure but, just as he had in the opening set, the world number four found some of his best form when his rival was serving to stay in the contest.
A fine return sent him to 0-40 in the 12th game and he produced another to seal a superb victory, much to the delight of a raucous Centre Court crowd.
Federer, meanwhile, had to do it the hard way to reach the final, recording a remarkable 3-6 7-6 (7/5) 19-17 victory over Juan Martin Del Potro in a match that lasted four hours and 26 minutes.
The contest surpassed Rafael Nadal's victory over Djokovic at the Madrid Masters in 2009 as the longest three-set men's singles match in the Open era.
Del Potro's record on grass was not particularly impressive, while he had faced Federer five times already this season and lost all of them.
The eighth seed had snuck through the draw rather unnoticed but was immediately on form in the first set. Federer was a bit error-prone, and he paid the price as Del Potro broke for 5-3 and then served it out.
The second was a very tense affair, with break points for both men, but it was Del Potro who was looking the more dangerous as he pushed Federer back with his thunderous forehand.
But the world number one hung on, showing the cool temperament that has helped him to 17 grand slam titles, and in the tie-break it was Del Potro who cracked.
Federer saved two break points at the start of the decider but from there it was he who began to threaten more. His rival would not yield though, finding big serves and even bigger groundstrokes when he needed them most.
Pressure
The Argentinian saved a break point at 7-7 and then picked up a sore hip with a full-length diving volley to hold on in the 17th game. Yet he was finding it harder and harder to withstand the pressure and he finally cracked at 9-9, shanking a forehand to leave Federer serving for the match.
That looked to be that, but surprisingly Federer could not take his opportunity and was promptly broken back to love.
Federer had a few sticky moments of his own but prevented Del Potro creating a match point, and in the 35th game he finally broke through again to lead 18-17.
An exhausted Del Potro buried his face in his shirt, and this time it was the crucial blow, although there was still time for Federer to miss a simple volley on his first match point before clinching it when his opponent netted a backhand.
The 30-year-old said: "It was a big match, obviously. It was very tough from start to finish. Juan Martin did so well to hang in there.
"I got lucky in the second set to get back and then in the third it was so tough. I don't think I have ever played as long a set in a best of three-set match, so it was very physical at the end and so mental. Obviously I feel bad and horrible for Juan Martin but he can be very proud."
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