Roger Federer will make his return to the Shanghai Masters later this year to take part in a special Celebrity Doubles match alongside actors Donnie Yen, Wu Lei, and former tennis player Zheng Jie.
Arguably still the biggest name in tennis despite retiring almost three years ago, Federer will once again pick up his Wilson racket, with this match one of his first on-court moments since his retirement at the Laver Cup in 2022, making it a special occasion.
Federer’s relationship with Shanghai runs deep, shaped by both tennis and business ties. Long before the Shanghai Masters began, he had already built a devoted fan base in China, thanks in part to major commercial partnerships and his success at the season-ending ATP Finals held there in the mid-2000s.
He went on to compete in the Shanghai Masters eight times, winning the title twice. His first victory came in 2014, when he defeated Novak Djokovic in the last four and Gilles Simon in the final back-to-back to lift the trophy. His second title came in 2017, when he overcame Rafael Nadal in the final. Across all his appearances, Federer amassed a a solid 23–9 record at the tournament, translating to a win-rate north of 70%.
In 2023, the Swiss legend was honored with the Icon Athlete Award by the tournament, celebrating his influence on the event, the city, and the sport of tennis. Last year, he was spotted courtside at the Masters, jokingly greeting Djokovic as an “old man,” watching the final from the stands, and famously sharing a practice hit with Carlos Alcaraz.
While it would be unrealistic to expect peak-level tennis from Federer in this exhibition doubles match, fans can still count on moments of brilliance and finesse, as well as presumably some moments of good humour. The presence of Donnie Yen and Wu Lei will add a dose of celebrity glamour, while Zheng Jie’s participation ensures a home crowd favourite will be in action.
Main photo credit: Albert Cesare/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK
