Roger Federer set to headline celebrity doubles action in special appearance at Shanghai Masters

Having hung up his racket in 2022 after a decorated career, Roger Federer will be gracing the court of the Shanghai Masters for a celebrity doubles match scheduled for October 11, 2024. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the tournament was put on hold from 2020 to 2022. Upon its return to the ATP Tour last season, the Swiss maestro was honored in an on-court ceremony and was presented with the Icon Athlete Award.

The celebrity doubles match will feature a star-studded lineup, including Paris Olympic gold medalist in men's table tennis Fan Zhendong, two-time Olympic champion and retired Chinese table tennis player Wang Liqin, China's top-ranked male tennis player Zhang Zhizhen, and Hong Kong pop music icon Eason Chan.

Since his first participation in the tournament in 2010, the Swiss has formed a strong bond with the fans and the city. Over the course of his career, he went on to lift the title twice, participating eight times in total.

At the 2023 edition, Federer had the opportunity to speak to the crowd, where he reflected on his relationship with the fans and expressed gratitude for the love and support he has received in China.

"Ever since I showed up here as a teenager in 2002, maybe I even had a ponytail, I looked different, I played different, but I got so many fans, I feel like, from the first moment I came, I feel like I got the most incredible support here in Shanghai and in China. I've been very fortunate to play here for so many years," he said in an on-court interview.

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A closer look at how Roger Federer clinched two titles at the Shanghai Masters

2019 Rolex Shanghai Masters - Previews - Source: Getty

During Roger Federer’s career, he clinched the Shanghai Masters title twice. Only Novak Djokovic (4) and Andy Murray (3) have won more titles at the tournament than Federer.

Federer secured his first title at the tournament in 2014, knocking out Leonardo Mayer in the second round and edging out Roberto Bautista Agut in the third round, setting up a quarterfinal clash with France’s Julien Benneteau, whom he outclassed.

The semifinal was against Novak Djokovic, who was the two-time defending champion at the time, and Federer emerged victorious, defeating him in straight sets. Federer then lifted the title after a 7-6(6), 7-6(2) victory over Gilles Simon.

His second title came in 2017. En route to the final, he beat Diego Schwartzman, Alexandr Dolgopolov, Richard Gasquet, and Juan Martín del Potro, before defeating Rafael Nadal 6–4, 6–3 in the final.

At the 2023 edition, while he received the Icon Athlete Award, Federer also reflected on his matches against Rafael Nadal at the tournament, saying:

“I played Rafa on so many occasions, not in every tournament I played but almost in all the big matches around the world and I’m happy we could do it here, not just once but three times, It’s even more special if it’s in a final. I thought I played extremely well in that match… I played a fantastic tournament and a fantastic year when I came back [after] my knee problem,” he said during the same on-court interview.

The last time Federer participated in the tournament before his retirement was in 2019 when he reached the quarterfinals before being knocked out by Russia’s Alexander Zverev.