Roger Federer to make a comeback in October

GENEVA: Roger Federer will make his much-anticipated return to the court this autumn in front of a live crowd, taking part in a special exhibition doubles event at the Rolex Shanghai Masters.

The Swiss legend, who retired from professional tennis in September 2022 at the age of 41, announced in a social media video that he will feature in the “Roger & Friends” event on October 10, 2025, at the Qizhong Stadium.

This will be Federer’s first appearance in Shanghai since 2019, when he lost in the quarterfinals to Alexander Zverev. The 20-time Grand Slam champion has twice won the Chinese Masters 1000 title, in 2014 and 2017.

In the upcoming exhibition, Federer will partner with personalities from sport and entertainment, including Chinese actor Wu Lei, martial arts star Donnie Yen, and former doubles world No. 3 Zheng Jie. His return is expected to be one of the highlights of the tournament fortnight.

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Federer last competed at the 2022 Laver Cup, teaming up with long-time rival Rafael Nadal for an emotional farewell against Jack Sock and Frances Tiafoe. Over his career, he captured 103 ATP singles titles, including 20 majors, and became known worldwide for his elegance, sportsmanship, and competitive brilliance.

Last year, Federer expressed a desire to play more exhibition matches, saying he missed the game and wanted to return to the court occasionally. While he has mostly taken a break from tennis since retirement, he hinted at staging matches in iconic venues worldwide — and his Shanghai return will be the first step toward that goal.