if Roger Federer truly is past it, then Milos Raonic must have felt like he stepped into a time machine and travelled back a few years last night.
By the end of the first game, the 23-year-old had already seen his huge serve broken. By the end of the second set he looked like a broken man. Thirty-three minutes later he was out of the gentleman's singles, the uprising of youth obliterated by one of the oldest swingers in town.
What happens next, in a Wimbledon final against Novak Djokovic, remains to be seen for a man one month shy of his 33rd birthday. What can be in no doubt is that those directing Federer towards pasture will need to take a break. Perhaps they need a lie down.
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Through: Roger Federer (left) is through to the Wimbledon final after a straight sets win against Milos Raonic
Big-hitter: Raonic struggled to cope with Federer's class once his serve had been returned
How romantic that after two years without a Grand Slam - some of it spent in an undignified, unrequested position of pity - Federer finds himself on the cusp of becoming the oldest male winner of Wimbledon in the open era. A record eighth title here, a notion that seemed increasingly implausible this time a year ago, is now one match away.
'I'm unbelievably thrilled to be in another final,' he said. 'I was very pleased the way I played because it was always going to be a difficult match against Milos.
'The fun for me is being able to do it, at this age, with a family, with the team I have. We have a great relationship. I know so many people over time now on the tour, so being here, doing this, is something I really, really enjoy.
'I am extremely happy. I will try to enjoy it as much as I can. The first final was special in 2003 and it has been a thrill ever since. To get another chance is great. Novak and I have had many great matches.'
If his win yesterday, and indeed his wider revival in 2014, proved anything it is that while the old back might not be what it once was, the maestro with four children in tow can still play a handy tune.
Record: Federer admitted winning Wimbledon for an eighth time would top his career achievements
Down low: Raonic attempts to return to Federer during the pair's semi-final clash
Star: British actor Jude Law (centre) was in the Royal box to enjoy the men's semi-finals on Friday
Of course, the obituaries were premature in the extreme and, by extension, a measure of context is needed when rating the scale of his comeback this year.
By his own admission, 2013 was 'difficult'; woeful in the minds of most who saw some of the defeats. He had a serious back injury and his lowest haul of titles since 2001 – one. His ranking fell to eighth.
Worse still, in the two years since he won here there has been a spreading of the opinion that the mounting losses would damage his legacy. A ludicrous sentiment but a popular one.
'I don't even remember when my last Grand Slam final was,' Federer joked last night.
Certainly, this is no fairytale. He has been too good for too long to count as a true outsider, particular with grass under his feet.
But it is an astonishing achievement and one given greater stature by the numbers that show only eight Slams have been won by fathers since 1990. None have been won in that time by a father of four.
Victory: Federer waves to fans and acknowledges their support on Centre Court
Respect: The pair shake hands following Federer's semi-final victory on Friday evening
Then again, Federer is the man who has made an estimated fortune of £140million by breaking records.
Yesterday he took a step to more by breaking serves. This was a win that owed much to experience and a keen sense for when Raonic was vulnerable.
At the slightest sign of weakness, Federer ran away with the game. His three breaks of serve – twice to 15 points and once to 30 – were notable against a man broken only twice in five previous matches.
The first break came in the opening game. Raonic walked with his head down to the chair, picking at his strings; Federer strutted, brushing back his hair, calmness personified. He never looked back in taking the opening set 6-4 in 34 minutes.
At that point, there were no smiles, unlike Thursday when he traded high-fives with some of the hundreds who watched him practice on Court 4. There was simply that single fist salute so familiar to those who saw him dominate this competition for a decade.
There was another when he broke at 4-4 in the second and at the same stage in the third.
Raonic, close to the front of the 'new wave' of men's tennis, was left shaking his head.
'Roger is the guy that's done a lot of things that don't seem possible,' he said. 'A lot of people could have, and have, written him off in a lot of ways. But you knew he was capable of this run.'
It's not over yet.
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