The old guard of men’s tennis isn’t ready to be overthrown just yet.

Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer kept an uprising from the next generation at bay as they swept aside younger opponents in Friday’s Wimbledon semi-finals.

It set up mouth-watering showdown for the title on Sunday in what will be the pair’s 35th duel and second in a major final.

A gritty Djokovic overcame Bulgarian 11th seed Grigor Dimitrov 6-4 3-6 7-6 (7-2) 7-6 (9-7) before Federer dispatched big-serving Canadian eighth seed Milos Raonic in clinical fashion, 6-4 6-4 6-4.

The rise of 23-year-olds Dimitrov and Raonic, along with the remarkable emergence of Australian quarter-finalist Nick Kyrgios, had many talking about a changing of the guard this week.

The premature exits of defending champion Andy Murray and world No.1 Rafael Nadal strengthened that theory but Federer and Djokovic showed the game’s up-and-comers there’s still a way to go to threaten the seniors’ stranglehold on the majors.

“It was always going to be hard to get rid of all four guys at the same time, let’s just be honest,” Federer said.

“But I am happy to see those guys are knocking on the door now more consistently.

“Milos and Grigor both have been around for a while but Kyrgios is a totally different situation.

“We hope we have more of the Kyrgios-type teenagers coming through.”

A beaten Dimitrov, though, is convinced significant change is afoot.

“We’re already in that space, if you think about it,” said Dimitrov, coached by Australian Roger Rasheed.

“Quarters, semis. It’s just a matter of jumping over that next hurdle.”

Swiss fourth seed Federer will battle for an historic 18th grand slam title and eighth Wimbledon championship at the age of 32.

Top seed Djokovic is bidding for a second Wimbledon crown and trying to arrest a slump in grand slam finals, with the Serb losing five of his past six.

Djokovic, the 2011 champion, rarely hit peak form in a patchy semi-final on Centre Court, but showed all his battling qualities to overcome Dimitrov in a three hour and two minute war of attrition.

The Serb’s last grand slam title came at the 2013 Australian Open and he admits his recent record in finals is providing motivation ahead of Sunday.

“Losing grand slam finals, it cannot be satisfying,” Djokovic said.

“I don’t want to sound like I’m not appreciating to play finals of a grand slam. It’s already a huge result.

“But I know that I can win the title.”

Federer had almost four hours less on court than Djokovic in a seamless run to the semis and he again kept things straight forward with a classy victory over Raonic.

The Canadian, who defeated Kyrgios in the quarter-finals, hit 17 aces to six bit Federer excelled in every other area as he won in one hour and 41 minutes.

Federer becomes the oldest man to make a grand slam final since Andre Agassi reached the 2005 Australian Open final at the age of 33.

He will take an 18-16 career lead over Djokovic into Sunday’s championship match.

“Novak and myself always play good matches,” Federer said.

“He is a great champion and is used to these occasions.

“I know I don’t have 10 years left, so I’m going to try and enjoy it as much as I can.

“That I get another chance to go through these kinds of emotions is great.”

FACTBOXES (2):

o   Wimbledon men’s final paths

o   WHO THEY BEAT TO GET TO THE WIMBLEDON MEN’S FINAL

1-Novak Djokovic (SRB) v 4-Roger Federer (SUI)

Djokovic

1st rd: bt Andrey Golubev (KAZ) 6-0 6-1 6-4

2nd rd: bt Radek Stepanek (CZE) 6-4 6-3 6-7 (5-7) 7-6 (7-5)

3rd rd: bt Gilles Simon (FRA) 6-4 6-2 6-4

4th rd: bt 14-Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (FRA) 6-3 6-4 7-6 (7-5)

QF: bt 26- Marin Cilic (CRO) 6-1 3-6 6-7 (4-7) 6-2 6-2

SF: bt 11-Grigor Dimitrov (BUL) 6-4 3-6 7-6 (7-2) 7-6 (9-7)

Federer

1st rd: bt Paolo Lorenzi (ITA) 6-1 6-1 6-3

2nd rd: bt Gilles Muller (LUX) 6-3 7-5 6-3

3rd rd: bt Santiago Giraldo (COL) 6-3 6-1 6-3

4th rd: bt 23-Tommy Robredo (ESP) 6-1 6-4 6-4

QF: bt 5-Stanislas Wawrinka (SUI) 3-6 7-6 (7-5) 6-4 6-4

SF: bt 8-Milos Raonic (CAN) 6-4 6-4 6-4

o   Wimbledon men’s finalists

o   HEAD TO HEAD RECORD OF WIMBLEDON MEN’S SINGLES FINALISTS

1Novak Djokovic (SRB) v 4-Roger Federer (SUI)

Federer leads 18-16

2014 Monte Carlo Clay SF Federer 7-5, 6-2

2014 In 2014 Monte Carlo Clay SF Federer 7-5 6-2

2014 Indian Wells Hard F Djokovic 3-6 6-3 7-6 (7-3)

2014 Dubai Hard SF Federer 3-6 6-3 6-2

2013 London Hard RR Djokovic 6-4 6-7 (2-7) 6-2

2013 Paris Hard SF Djokovic 4-6 6-3 6-2

2012 London Hard F Djokovic 7-6 (8-6) 7-5

2012 Cincinnati Hard F Federer 6-0 7-6 (9-7)

2012 Wimbledon Grass SF Federer 6-3 3-6 6-4 6-3

2012 French Open Clay SF Djokovic 6-4 7-5 6-3

2012 Rome Clay SF Djokovic 6-2 7-6 (7-4)

2011 US Open Hard SF Djokovic 6-7 (7-9) 4-6 6-3 6-2 7-5

2011 French Open Clay SF Federer 7-6 (7-5) 6-3 3-6 7-6 (7-5)

2011 Indian Wells Hard SF Djokovic 6-3 3-6 6-2

2011 Dubai Hard F Djokovic 6-3 6-3

2011 Australian Open Hard SF Djokovic 7-6 (7-3) 7-5 6-4

2010 London Hard SF Federer 6-1 6-4

2010 Basel Hard F Federer 6-4 3-6 6-1

2010 Shanghai Hard SF Federer 7-5 6-4

2010 US Open Hard SF Djokovic 5-7 6-1 5-7 6-2 7-5

2010 Toronto Hard SF Federer 6-1 3-6 7-5

2009 Basel Hard F Djokovic 6-4 4-6 6-2

2009 US Open Hard SF Federer 7-6 (7-3) 7-5 7-5

2009 Cincinnati Hard F Federer 6-1 7-5

2009 Rome Clay SF Djokovic 4-6 6-3 6-3

2009 Miami Hard SF Djokovic 3-6 6-2 6-3

2008 US Open Hard SF Federer 6-3 5-7 7-5 6-2

2008 Monte Carlo Clay SF Federer 6-3 3-2 – retired

2008 Australian Open Hard SF Djokovic 7-5 6-3 7-6 (7-5)

2007 US Open Hard F Federer 7-6 (7-4) 7-6 (7-2) 6-4

2007 Montreal Hard F Djokovic 7-6 (7-2) 2-6 7-6 (7-2)

2007 Dubai Hard QF Federer 6-3 6-7 (6-8) 6-3

2007 Australian Open Hard R16 Federer 6-2 7-5 6-3

2006 Davis Cup SUI v SRB Hard RR Federer 6-3 6-2 6-3

2006 Monte Carlo Clay R64 Federer 6-3 2-6 6-3