Federer to light up Shanghai Masters

Dubai World No 1 Roger Federer has confirmed for next week’s 2012 Shanghai Rolex Masters to be played at the Qi Zhong Tennis Centre starting on October 7.

Federer missed the 2011 event but the 17-time Grand Slam winner has messaged Tournament Director Michael Luevano that he will be back for this year’s event. “It will be fantastic to return to Shanghai and the Shanghai Rolex Masters,” Federer said.

“I love the city and especially the fans. I’ve enjoyed great success at the tournament, dating back to the Tennis Masters Cups. I hope all the fans will come out to enjoy the matches.”

This will be Federer’s seventh trip to Shanghai. The last time he played the Shanghai Rolex Masters he reached the final where it took Andy Murray to stop him.

Novak Djokovic will also be making the trip to Shanghai again this year. Injury stopped him from playing 12 months ago but the Serb remains a very popular figure in Shanghai since winning the season-ending championship at Qi Zhong in 2008.

The two-time winner of the Shanghai Rolex Masters and now the Olympic gold medallist and US Open champion Murray can expect a whole new legion of followers when he returns to defend his title. “I really enjoy the tournament in Shanghai,” said Murray.

“The whole week, they put on a great tournament. I really enjoy it. People are very friendly. They try very hard to make the tournament as easy for the players as possible. They just run a really good tournament.”

“We are obviously thrilled to be welcoming back the world number one and global icon Federer. To also have Novak and of course Andy and since reaching the final here last year David Ferrer has gone on to have the best year of his career. It will be good to have him back as well as so many other stars like Tomas Berdych and Jo Wilfried Tsonga,” noted Luevano.

The Shanghai Rolex Masters, voted the last three years the ATP World Tour Masters 1000 “Tournament of the Year”, is the only such event in Asia.