
After hanging up his racket over two years ago, Swiss tennis legend Roger Federer is set to make an unexpected appearance in an exhibition match at the 2025 Shanghai Masters on Friday.
The 20-time Grand Slam champion called an end to his distinguished career in 2022. After battling with knee injuries, the former World No.1 decided to retire at his beloved Laver Cup, playing his last professional match alongside longtime rival and friend Rafael Nadal in a doubles tie for Team Europe.
Following his retirement, Federer took a step back from the tennis community. The 44-year old has made sporadic appearances on the ATP tour, visiting the Wimbledon grounds and the annual Laver Cup, which he founded.
With Carlos Alcaraz withdrawing prior to the start of the Shanghai Open and Jannik Sinner retiring during his third round match against Tallon Griekspoor due to severe cramps, Federer's participation will likely add some more excitement to a tournament that some have said is missing significant star power.
Federer to team up with Chinese legends
The Swiss Maestro will compete in a doubles exhibition match alongside a handful of Chinese celebrities to end the day's proceedings on Friday. Federer will team up with Star Wars star and legendary film-maker Donnie Yen to take on the team of retired WTA player Zheng Jie and former professional footballer Wu Lei.
Read also
The celebrity doubles match will take place after the completion of the men's quarterfinal matches. The first quarterfinal match will see Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime battle Frenchman Arthur Rinderknech, with the other featuring Australian Alex de Minaur lock horns with former World No.1 Daniil Medvedev.
The first semifinal of the Shanghai Open has already been decided, with Serbian superstar Novak Djokovic set to battle qualifier Valentin Vacherot. The World No.204 stunned 10th seed Holger Rune to reach his maiden ATP Masters 1000 semifinal. Conversely, Djokovic continues setting records, as he reached his 80th ATP Masters 1000 semifinal after defeating Belgian Zizou Bergs in their quarterfinal match.
Read also
Growing up in a household where soccer was king, my earliest memories are filled with chants from packed stadiums and the rhythm of a ball being passed across neighborhood streets. But somewhere along the way, the quiet elegance and raw emotion of tennis pulled me in. What began as a curiosity became a lifelong passion; not just for the sport itself, but for the stories it tells: of grit, of heartbreak, of improbable comebacks and human resilience.
As a tennis writer, I bring the observational lens of someone who didn’t grow up in the sport, but fell in love with it as an outsider; a perspective that lets me see both its technical beauty and its emotional depth. Over the years working with TennisUpToDate, I’ve had the privilege of reaching more than 3.5 million readers worldwide, with one of my features ranking among the site’s top three articles.
With a background in storytelling and a creative mind always searching for meaning beyond the scoreboard, I aim to craft narratives that go deeper than results and rankings. Whether it’s a rising star breaking through or a veteran fighting off Father Time, I try to capture the heartbeat behind the headlines.
claps 22visitors 1
Just In
Popular News
Latest Comments
- After a couple decades traveling to IIHF tourneys overseas... our family is done with it... and I will not be the only one!! Bad enough the NHL allows Ovachenko (a Putin Supporter and Campaigner) to live and play in the USA. Let's not forget the STATE SPONSORED RUSSIAN DOPING PROGRAMS still in effect today.
mandoist31-10-2026 - Osaka's mental state apparently does not allow her to reach any more Quarter Finals? I mean, she doesn't really have the time for tennis with all the pre-planning that must go into her 12 year-old "fashion" goals.
mandoist29-10-2026 - With her money one would think she could afford a better team of Psychiatrists?
mandoist29-10-2026 - Boss move, Sinner !Rapunzel27-10-2026
- Apparently still refusing to seek 'help' ...and still playing Dress-Up like a 10 year-old.
mandoist27-10-2026 - Lena... Takin' care of business
mandoist25-10-2026 - Can you please stop publishing this nonsense? Stick to Tennis.
mandoist25-10-2026 - Does Sinner need that 4.5 mil? I doubt it. He can make that with three modelling gigs!😅🤣Rapunzel21-10-2026
- Did "People Magazine" purchase this website? This nonstop storyline is bullshit.
mandoist21-10-2026 - Listen... this is of no concern to anyone but these two. Deal with your own issues -- most of us have our own. Thanks, media, for these insignificant follow-ups which are meaningless.
mandoist21-10-2026










