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Roger Federer returned to the Shanghai Masters on Friday for a special ceremony as he was named the “icon athlete” of the tournament. The retired tennis legend watched old match clips and answered some fan questions during a presentation that also saw a strange moment where Federer had an encounter with a lion mascot.<\/p>\n
The Shanghai Masters is being staged for the first time since Federer’s retirement after taking a four-year hiatus. The Swiss star reached the quarter-final last time the tournament was played in 2019 and he was back this time around to be honoured during an on-court ceremony on day 10 of the event.<\/p>\n
The tournament director presented the two-time former champion with presents before Federer reflected on some of his past matches in Shanghai. The 42-year-old then took part in a Q&A with tennis legend Li Na and rising star Zhizhen Zhang coming onto the court to ask Federer the questions that had been submitted by fans.<\/p>\n
Federer was asked a big one – whether he was ever tempted to return to the tennis tour. It prompted some cheers from the fans who hoped to see him back on a court. But the 20-time Major winner quickly shut down any suggestions of a comeback.<\/p>\n
Click here to join our WhatsApp community to be the first to receive breaking and exclusive tennis news<\/strong><\/p>\n Just in <\/strong> Emma Raducanu absent from Great Britain’s Billie Jean King Cup team[LATEST] <\/strong><\/p>\n “I\u2019m extremely happily retired like Na Li,” Federer smiled. “For me, there\u2019s no coming back. I had an absolute blast on the tour. I feel like I took the lemon and I squeezed it out until the last drop. I gave it all I had and there\u2019s none left and now I’m just a super tennis fan like all of you.”<\/p>\n But the former world No 1 didn’t rule out a return in a different way as he shared his hopes of embarking on an exhibition tour later on in his retirement. He continued: “But what a journey it\u2019s been and it took me here to the most incredible places on the planet to play tennis and it\u2019s been incredible. Of course, I miss those moments but now another chapter has begun and the last year has been terrific.<\/p>\n “Unfortunately less tennis [but] more tennis with the children. But I hope that down the road maybe I can play an exhibition match back here in China, here in Shanghai even, and around the world so I can play in front of all of you again.”<\/p>\n We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info<\/p>\n Don’t miss… <\/strong> Federer revealed that he was still getting out on the court with his four children, who recently attended tennis academies over the summer. “I play a lot with my children but the problem is that I am still the dad and that creates the problem,” he laughed.<\/p>\n “So if I was the former super player and not the dad that would be easier but as the dad there is an emotional twist, highly complicated.” And it appears that the 103-time title winner is enjoying lift after professional tennis. “I mean change has been great,” he explained.<\/p>\n “Just having a life where I can dictate much more where I\u2019m going to go, what I’m going to do. Meet up with friends and family and just also thinking a little bit more further ahead than just the next tournament, the next practice and so forth. I feel like life in a way is much more simple.”<\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/cdn.images.express.co.uk\/img\/dynamic\/72\/590x\/secondary\/5010391.jpg?r=1697198349230\")
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