Roger Federer made a rare public appearance in Shanghai just days after his twin sons, Leo and Lenny, attended the ATP Masters 1000 tournament without their father. The 20-time Grand Slam champion is set to return to the court in the ‘Roger & Friends’ celebrity doubles exhibition on October 10 at Qizhong Stadium, marking his first time playing in front of a live crowd since retiring in 2022.
What Makes Roger Federer’s Return to Shanghai So Special?
Federer has long held a special place in Shanghai, where he claimed his two singles titles at the Masters event. His participation this year was confirmed earlier in 2025. The celebrity doubles match will allow Federer to showcase his skills alongside actor and martial artist Donnie Yen, taking on retired WTA doubles star Zheng Jie and former professional footballer Wu Lei.
The timing of Federer’s arrival also captured attention because of his family’s presence. His eleven-year-old twins, Leo and Lenny, were spotted at the tournament on Wednesday, attending the fourth-round clash between Daniil Medvedev and Learner Tien. Federer, for his part, took part in a sponsor-organized event with ON, allowing him to engage with fans off-court before preparing for Friday’s match.
The Shanghai Masters’ official X page shared footage of Federer arriving at the Qizhong Forest Sports City Arena and engaging with fans.
Look who’s back at the #RolexShanghaiMasters 😎
Welcome, @rogerfederer 👋 pic.twitter.com/P5zRqBC3PM
— Rolex Shanghai Masters (@SH_RolexMasters) October 10, 2025
Federer’s enthusiasm for returning to Shanghai was captured in a promotional video shared by the tournament, where he said, “Hello, this is Roger, and I am really happy to be returning to 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.”
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The exhibition match is scheduled to follow the men’s quarterfinals, which feature top-tier matchups including 12th seed Felix Auger-Aliassime versus Arthur Rinderknech and seventh seed Alex de Minaur against former World No. 1 Medvedev.
How Has Federer Performed at the Shanghai Masters Over the Years?
Federer played the Shanghai Masters eight times, compiling a 23-6 win-loss record. He won the title twice, in 2014 (defeating Gilles Simon) and 2017 (defeating Rafael Nadal), and finished runner-up during his Shanghai debut in 2010 (losing to Andy Murray).
His best performances came on the tournament’s fast hard courts, while his rare early exits included a 2015 loss to Albert Ramos-Vinolas. Overall, Federer remains one of the most successful players in Shanghai Masters history.
