Roger Federer announces shock return to tennis three years after retirement as date set for comeback

Roger Federer has announced that he will be returning to tennis, with a date set for his comeback.

Federer won 20 Grand Slam tennis titles during his career and is one of the greatest players in the history of the sport.

A record-setting eight-time Wimbledon men's singles champion, his last Grand Slam final saw him lose to Novak Djokovic in a five-set thriller at SW19 in 2019.

He called time on his career at the age of 41 in 2022, having suffered from injury problems across the previous two years.

The Swiss icon has now announced he will be returning to the court for a one-off match later this year.

He will compete in a doubles exhibition match during the 2025 Shanghai Masters, which is scheduled to take place in October.

The match will take place on October 10, with Chinese actor Wu Lei, former Chinese tennis player Zheng Jie, and Hong Kong-American actor and filmmaker Donnie Yen also taking part.

In a video published on the tournament's official social media accounts, Federer stated: "I'm really happy to returning to 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 can't wait to see you there on October 10. Shanghai, let's meet!"

Why is Federer playing in Shanghai?

Federer only played in the Shanghai Masters on seven occasions during his career, which might make it appear a surprise destination for his comeback on the face of it.

But he won the tournament twice during his career when it was an ATP 1000 event, and reached a further two finals.

He is also hugely popular in China, and visited Shanghai in both 2023 and 2024.

The 44-year-old also played a role in the Beijing 2008 Olympics opening ceremony.

Federer told the ATP Tour's official website in 2024: "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."