Federer ponders post-retirement, casting questions

SHANGHAI, China (AP) -- Some bad news for Roger Federer's rivals: Retirement is so far off his radar screen he hasn't even thought about what he might do when he's done with tennis.

"I hope I play for a very long time," he said Friday, suggesting he may play until he's 35.

Considering he's only 26 and already within sight of Pete Sampras' record of 14 Grand Slam titles, Federer could force the likes of Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic to wait a stretch, and that's not to mention all those teenagers whacking balls on practice courts around the world while dreaming of becoming No. 1.

Federer has held that distinction for four consecutive years and shows no signs of slowing down, with three Grand Slam championships among his seven titles this year. A victory at the Australian Open in January would pull him within one of Sampras' mark heading into the one major that has eluded the Swiss star -- the French Open.

For now, the target is a fourth title at the Masters Cup that opens in Shanghai on Sunday for the world's top eight players. With Nadal and Roddick fighting knee problems and Nikolay Davydenko burdened by a match-fixing scandal, the path seems less treacherous than usual.

If Federer does stay around as long as he hopes, that would clearly be good news for a sport already trying to bolster its popularity even before the match-fixing scandal. It would also be good news for the corporate sponsors eager to trade on his talent and spotless image.

That was clear as Federer gave a shaving lesson Friday night to 1,000 male college students.

Yes, a shaving lesson.

This promotion for Gillette -- Federer did another gig for a coffee-maker the day before -- could have been an exercise in farce. But Federer somehow pulled it off with grace, even while spouting lines like: "It's about waking up in the morning and feeling fresh and confident."

The crowd stood throughout the hourlong program, with occasional shouts of "We love you, Roger!" Many of the 100 or so Chinese journalists were snapping photos with their own digital cameras for souvenirs.

The most interesting moment came when Federer was asked questions submitted in advance by the audience. First up was what he planned to do when he retires.

The query seemed to briefly put him on his back foot before he said he would play until he's 35 if his body holds up. While many of the pretenders to his throne have been hit with a variety of ailments, Federer has remained nearly injury free.

He did say he hopes to do more work for his charitable foundation, might start a family with his longtime girlfriend and hopes more opportunities will open as he continues to play.

In a multiple-choice offering, Federer was asked to pick which actor he would like to see portray him: Matt Damon, Brad Pitt, Johnny Depp or Denzel Washington. He chose Pitt, who has cultivated a persona as a tough guy with a soft side and a sense of humor.

Sounds like perfect casting. Federer might consider a second career in film production.