A feisty Roger Federer overcame Novak Djokovic in a gripping Shanghai Masters semi-final Saturday, ending the Serb’s incredible winning streak in China and his hopes of clinching a third successive title.
A brilliant attacking display from Federer, who served with aggression and spent much of his time at the net, unsettled the world number one for a 6-4, 6-4 win.
Both players were looking to unnerve each other early on, with Djokovic attempting riskier groundstrokes to counter Federer confronting him at the net.
Every point was greeted with exuberant cheers and the stadium erupted when Federer broke serve on his second break-point in the fifth game.
He then earned his sole break-point of the set in the next game, which Federer saved. The Swiss then produced a perfect serving game — firing four successive aces to march to a 5-3 lead as he closed in on the set with another ace.
Federer carried his ruthless approach into the early stages of the second set, breaking in the first game with a lifting groundstroke that was beyond Djokovic’s right.
Djokovic staged a valiant attempt to break as he was losing 3-5 with some incredible net-play. But Federer recovered and claimed set and match in one hour 36 minutes.
He will meet Gilles Simon in the decider Sunday, after the Frenchman powered past Feliciano lopez 6-2, 7-6 to reach his first Masters final in six years and seal his return to the world top 20.