The Croat then played an inspirational game when leading 6-5, as three successive return winners flew past Henman to secure the set.

With Ivanisevic in confident mood at the start of the second set, Henman looked to have missed his chance when he wasted three break points in the ninth game.

It came down to a tie-break, and this time Henman seized the moment.

After two breaks apiece he converted his second set point with a sharp volley to level at one set all.

The momentum was now firmly with Henman, and he played faultless tennis to wrap up the third set 6-0 in just 15 minutes.

Ivanisevic had no answer to a succession of lobs and winners off both sides and looked increasingly frustrated as he lost serve three times.

Agonising wait

But Henman's flow was stemmed by the rain and, when the pair returned on Saturday, it was Ivanisevic who took the fourth set on a tie-break.

The pair had shared two mini-breaks apiece, before the Croat took the set when he fired a service return at the Briton's toes with the score at 6-5.

Just five games into the deciding set, the rains came again leaving the pair another agonising overnight wait.

And it was Ivanisevic's patience which was rewarded as he secured a fairytale fourth Wimbledon final appearance.

"I don't want to lose again - that would kill me," said Ivanisevic.

"Tomorrow's the biggest day of my life, I don't want to get that plate for a fourth time."

Asked about his opponent in the final, the Croat said: "He's a great friend and a great player - it's going to be tough.

"But tomorrow we are not going to be friends."