It was the sort of performance that tennis fans wondered if they would ever see again from Roger Federer in a big match with either Novak Djokovic or Rafael Nadal. Ironically enough, it would be the world No. 1 who summed up best what we saw unfold during semi-final number two at the Shanghai Rolex Masters on Saturday evening.

“He played a perfect match,” Djokovic said. “Tonight is definitely one of the best matches he has played against me, that’s for sure.” While it may not have been a “perfect” outing for the No. 3 seed, it wasn’t far off. While the 6-4, 6-4 scoreline may suggest the talented Serb simply had an off night, the truth is…it was anything but.

Djokovic actually played quite well but on this evening, Federer was on a completely different level. From start to finish, the thirty-three old dictated terms and there was absolutely nothing his opponent could do about. This despite the twenty-seven year old playing some of his best tennis of 2014 and on a twenty-eight match win streak on Chinese soil…not to mention the fact he was already a three-time winner of the event and the two-time defending champion.

While looking Federer outduel one of his greatest rivals in the semi-final of an ATP Masters 1000 Event should not surprise any of us, it was the manner in which he did that was so impressive. His willingness to continually come to net, despite being passed on numerous occasions, coupled with what was a near flawless performance from the backhand wing was a thing of beauty of look. In short, it was “Vintage Fed”.

Over the last number of years, the seventeen-time Grand Slam champ has shown to be almost “too stubborn” when it came to altering his approach in matches against both Djokovic and Nadal. After losing a handful of crucial points, Federer would generally revert back to his old ways, and more often than not, end up on the wrong side of the scoreboard in most of those matches.

However, on this night, that would not be the case. As deadly as his groundstrokes were, it was his play at net that was such a joy to look. Federer was almost daring Djokovic to pass him and while the No. 1 seed managed to do so with some regularity, in the end it was simply too much to ask. The quality of shot-making, from both players, was fantastic but for a change…it was Roger who had worked his way into his opponent’s head.

Add to that yet another brilliant serving performance from the Swiss Maestro, which included a forty-seven second hold in which he smashed four consecutive aces to extend his lead to 5-3 in the opening set, and there was little Djokovic could do but shake his head. Federer made twenty-five of thirty-three first serves in the set and ended up facing just one break point for the entire match. No small feat…especially considering he was arguably facing the guy who most believe is the greatest returner of serve that the game has ever produced.

With Rafa Nadal having been bounced from the tournament in the opening round and Federer reaching the semi-finals, he was already guaranteed to overtake the Spaniard as the No. 2 ranked player in the world come Monday morning but this performance coupled with another win over Gilles Simone in tomorrow’s finale, could make career title No. 81 that much sweeter.