Roger Federer’s return to the court at the Rolex Shanghai Masters was always bound to feel special. Three years after his emotional farewell at the 2022 Laver Cup, the Swiss maestro slipped back into the spotlight for a “Roger Federer & Friends” celebrity doubles match. The night had all the makings of a Federer classic: smiles, finesse, and even three tiebreaks as he and actor Donnie Yen edged out a 5-7, 10-8, 7-1 win. But just as Shanghai buzzed with nostalgia, two former American pros peeled back the curtain on how such matches are often “fixed” for drama and entertainment.

On a recent episode of the Nothing Major Podcast, a fan candidly asked John Isner and Sam Querrey, “Can you tell us how exhibition matches are fixed? I assume they are, but maybe they’re not. Who fixes them and how do these discussions go?” Isner answered without hesitation. “In most exhibitions, the format, I think is like a third set tiebreaker. If you play two sets, then you do a third set tiebreaker. So, I think it’s definitely fixed, I think, ahead of time to make that match get into the tiebreaker.”

He continued, revealing how it typically unfolds behind the scenes. “Maybe it’s a one break win for each player prior to the tiebreaker. Then you can sort of play the tiebreaker out. See who wins that. You’re still playing hard, but you kind of know ahead of time that you’re going to split sets and go into that tiebreaker. That’s that’s sort of been my experience,” he said. Querrey chimed in with his own take.

“Mine would be more just no one wins two and two. Guys aren’t backstage saying, ‘All right, let’s I win the first set 6-4, you win the next set 7-5, and then we’ll go to a third set tiebreaker and play it out.’ I think I don’t even think that it necessarily needs to go to a third set tiebreaker. It just let’s keep it close. Let’s make sure the match takes an hour and a half. It’s an exhibition,” he noted.

He went on, reflecting the true purpose behind these showcases. “People are here, you know, buying tickets for this. Let’s make it just fun points, entertaining. Usually the players, no one cares who wins or loses, so they’re not necessarily going over a score line in the back, but let’s just keep it keep the sets close and have fun points. Whatever happens from there is fine,” Querrey added.

The issue of match-fixing in professional tennis is far from theoretical. Since a 2003 Sunday Telegraph exposé first brought attention to players allegedly throwing matches, governing bodies have scrambled to uphold integrity. The Tennis Integrity Unit was formed in 2008 to spearhead investigations and regulation. In 2011, Daniel Köllerer became the first player to be banned for life for match fixing. Over time, multiple bans and investigations followed, including high-profile cases involving Nicolás Kicker (2018) and Karim Hossam (2018), among others. But Isner and Querrey aren’t accusing exhibitions of that kind of corruption. 

They instead point to a milder, production-oriented “fixedness,” the kind meant to balance excitement, fairness, and spectacle. They suggest that certain structural elements (e.g., splitting sets, timing the match length) are often prearranged. This distinction is key, especially because for Federer, this return wasn’t just an exhibition. 

For much of the past two years, Roger Federer had resisted stepping back onto a tennis court, not out of disinterest, but restraint. Since retiring at the 2022 Laver Cup, the Swiss legend has been cautious about returning to exhibition play, his surgically repaired knee still not fully reliable. As his longtime agent Tony Godsick explained during the 2024 Laver Cup in Berlin, Federer “doesn’t want to play a game until he feels physically fit,” preferring to wait for a moment worthy of his comeback.

That moment came with emotional weight and local resonance. Federer has historic ties to Shanghai: during his playing career, he won the Masters there twice (2014 and 2017) and cultivated a strong fan base in China. In 2024, he had already participated in a lighter exhibition in Shanghai, pairing with Eason Chan and drawing local fanfare. Earlier this year, organizers confirmed his participation in the 2025 Celebrity Doubles match, with Federer himself releasing a video: “I am really happy to be returning to Qizhong Stadium… Shanghai has always been a special place for me.” 

Three years after retiring, the legend’s aura remains untouchable. On the latest episode of Andy Roddick’s Served podcast, Federer’s agent, Tony Godsick, opened a window into his life with the Swiss Maestro. The stories were not just about tennis; they were about the man behind the racket, the Big Three icon who transformed the sport with grace and strategy– and the $131 million in career prize money that further speaks of his dominance.

Tony Godsick unveils Roger Federer’s secret to billionaire status

Godsick revealed the key that fueled Federer’s success both on and off the court. “He communicated so much,” Godsick said. “I could get him on the phone all the time, when I went out on the road with him we’d have dinner every night. He wanted to participate in his business.”

This relentless communication, Godsick added, was the cornerstone of their partnership. “The secret to his success and our partnership” lay in Federer’s unwavering involvement. He never detached, never outsourced the soul of his journey. Every call, every meeting, every decision, he was there, fully present.

Federer’s charm didn’t stop at business. His humanity, his attention to the people around him, made the tour a shared adventure. “He wanted to make sure and it’s one of the reasons he stayed out on tour as long as he did, he wanted to make sure he had a great time out around the world. He stayed at nice hotels. We went to nice restaurants. We did cool things outside of tennis, and he’d always include me.”

And so, the Swiss GOAT remains timeless. Charity matches rise, fans cheer, and every glimpse of him on court feels like a blessing. 

Roger’s charisma hasn’t faded; it lingers, an echo of brilliance and warmth, reminding us why he is, and will always be, bigger than the game itself.