After three years off the court, Roger Federer has returned in style. The Swiss Maestro stepped into the Shanghai Masters at Qizhong Forest Sports City Tennis Center for the Friends Celebrity Doubles Match, partnering up with filmmaker Donnie Yen. The buzz has been real ever since this was announced months ago, and fans were thrilled to see the 20-time Grand Slam champion who has won the Shanghai Masters twice in his career make his return. And Federer certainly was thrilled to be there.

On Friday, Federer took on Chinese tennis legend Zheng Jie and Chinese actor Wu Lei, with Yen. Roger sported his navy blue kit, equipped with his Wilson racket, a sight for sore tennis eyes that have missed his presence on court since his 2022 retirement. Before the match, Federer expressed his gratitude to Wu Lei, who confessed to feeling nervous.

“It’s wonderful to be nervous, it shows that you care and I think you did really well,” Federer said earnestly. “Thank you also for coming, I could see you had a great time. And what I wanted to say about practicing so hard to get ready for the match, for Donnie and for you Lei. [gesturing to Zheng Jie] Though we don’t have to practice as much as them…But just to see the passion behind the practice sessions, I hope they can carry that after these matches as well.”

Hong Kong action star Donnie Yen, yes, the same Caine from John Wick 4, stepped onto the court alongside Chinese TV sensation Wu Lei for this star-studded exhibition. As Roger Federer mentioned, he sees it as more than entertainment. “And also maybe for people who are watching and who are here at the stadium, just to show how important sports is for everyday life, for happiness. I’m happy we could share a center court today together.”

And Jie’s legacy is nothing short of legendary. She reached a career-high singles ranking of World No. 15 in May 2009 and peaked at World No. 3 in doubles in July 2006. Zheng made history as the first Chinese woman to reach a Grand Slam singles semifinal, stunning World No. 1 Ana Ivanovic at Wimbledon in 2008 and repeating the feat at the 2010 Australian Open. Her 2008 run was about more than tennis, she donated her prize money to Sichuan earthquake relief, a deeply impactful gesture.

It proved to be an exciting showdown to watch, with the Federer-Yen team winning 5-7, 10-8, 7-1. Hardly a surprising result, even if Federer hasn’t been on court in 3 years. Additionally, it’s not the only comeback Federer has been talking about!

Roger Federer hints at the return of ‘Fedal’ for a possible seniors tour

Ahead of the 2025 Laver Cup last month, Federer was asked a question that sparked some serious excitement. On CNBC TV’s Squawk Box, the host asked if he would ever start a “senior tour” with Rafael Nadal. Without missing a beat, he replied, “Yeah, why not?” His enthusiasm was clear.

Roger Federer shared how he’s been keeping in shape, saying, “I love Rafa, and I played four hours of tennis the other day in San Francisco, and then in LA for another hour and a half. So, I’ve been playing a lot, I’ve been trying to keep in good shape. And I know that Rafa is also totally open to play some tennis.” It was obvious Federer doesn’t want to lose touch with the game anytime soon.

Although the idea of calling it a “senior” tour wasn’t appealing, Roger laughed it off. “It sounds terrible,” he admitted. Then he threw out a fun idea: “Maybe we can create a tour like a Fedal tour or something like that. I mean, it would be cool.” Luckily, Nadal feels the same way.

Nadal himself told journalists earlier this year, “I know I’ll be back at some point to play an exhibition match or something like that.” He added, “I need time. An exhibition match isn’t just about going out and playing; it’s all the preparation that goes into it, because when you play an exhibition, you want to show your tennis skills to the fans and everyone who organized it.”

With Federer’s exhibition match now concluded in Shanghai, he’s already halfway to getting back into the rhythm. Could a Fedal comeback be in the works? Share your thoughts in the comments!