Roger Federer is coming back to tennis courts this year. The 44-year-old legend will play in an exhibition match at the Shanghai Masters.
It’s been more than four years since Federer last played a professional singles match. That happened at the 2021 Wimbledon Championships, where he lost his final professional set 0-6 to Hubert Hurkacz.
Pretty tough way to go out.
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One year later, Federer appeared on court one last time at the Laver Cup. It’s technically an exhibition since there aren’t any ranking points up for grabs, but it still felt like a real goodbye.
The 20-time Grand Slam champion retired alongside his longtime rival Rafael Nadal. They lost a doubles match to Jack Sock and Frances Tiafoe. Now Federer’s heading back to doubles again, but this time it’s going to be way more relaxed.
October 10th is the date to mark on your calendar.
Federer will host an exhibition evening in Shanghai called the "Roger & Friends Celebrity Doubles Match." It’s happening at the Qizhong Tennis Center, the same venue where the Shanghai Masters takes place.
He won’t be playing with another tennis pro this time. Instead, Federer’s teaming up with actor and filmmaker Donnie Yen, another actor named Wu Lei, and former Chinese WTA player Zheng Jie.
The Swiss legend announced the match through the event’s social media accounts.
"Hello, this is Roger, and I’m really happy to be returning to the Qizhong Stadium in Shanghai for the Rolex Shanghai Masters. Shanghai has always been a special place for me with great fans, unforgettable memories, and a real love for the game. I look forward to seeing you there on October 10th. Shanghai, let’s meet!"
Federer’s Shanghai Success Story
Shanghai has been pretty amazing for Federer throughout his career. He’s won the tournament twice – first in 2014 when he beat Gilles Simon in the final, then again in 2017 with a victory over Rafael Nadal.
Only two players have managed to win more Shanghai titles than him.
Andy Murray took home three trophies in 2010, 2011, and 2016. But Novak Djokovic is the king of Shanghai with four titles in 2012, 2013, 2015, and 2018.
Federer still holds one pretty cool record though. He’s the oldest champion in the tournament’s history. When he won his second Shanghai title in 2017, he was 36 years, 2 months, and 7 days old.
That record could actually be broken this year.
Several players competing today are older than Federer was back then. Marin Cilic, Stan Wawrinka, Gael Monfils, Roberto Bautista Agut, and even Novak Djokovic all fit the bill.
Whether any of them will actually play in Shanghai is another question. Rankings and injuries have been pretty tough on some of these veterans lately.
For now though, fans get to see Federer back where he belongs – on a tennis court in Shanghai, even if it’s just for fun this time.
