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 t

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