Federer has been in fine form (©GettyImages). Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic remain on-course to triumph at the Shanghai Masters this week, and their respective campaigns have been boosted by stars from another sport who certainly know what it's like to win big.
Celebrities from around the world are often attracted by the glitz and glamour of the most prestigious ATP World Tour events, and that is certainly the case in China as former members of the AC Milan football team showed their faces.
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Famous faces
Former Chelsea flop Andrei Shevchenko - perhaps more fondly know as a legend for Milan and his native Ukraine - was in attendance alongside his former captain Paolo Maldini, the Italian who made just shy of 800 appearances for club and country.
The duo were spotted in the crowd for Federer's third round domination of Spanish player Roberto Bautista Agu and were left to applaud one particular moment of sheer brilliance from tennis' most successful-ever patron.
The 33-year-old was already a set to the good, and a break-up in the second when he nonchalantly sliced and lobbed the 14th seed from his backhand, seemingly without even looking, before going on to win the point and, eventually, the match.
Appreciation
Shevchenko and Maldini were caught on camera appreciating Federer's mastery. They themselves would be proud of that in the same way they would with a sweet-struck volley or goal-line clearance.
Fresh from seeing the 17-time Grand Slam champion strut his stuff, Shevchenko, Maldini and co then paid a visit to one of Federer's great rivals. With Rafael Nadal eliminated after suffering from appendicitis, Djokovic is expected to continue his great form - and he took some time to meet the footballing legends too.
In a series of tweets, the current world no.1 showed himself in pictures with the footballers. Franco Baresi, another World Cup winner, was also thanked for coming down to see the Serbian.
Shanghai domination
Djokovic is just two wins away from winning his third consecutive Shanghai title second trophy in as many weeks following the China Open in Beijing. The 27-year-old has just completed the straight sets victory of David Ferrer in the quarter-finals, the beaten Spaniard was responsible for Andy Murray's exit in round three.
Aside from meeting AC Milan's high-profile alumni, Djokovic and Federer were both dwarfed by former Chinese basketball player Yao Ming. The 7'6" was pictured with the two tennis champions as he watched the action in Shanghai (from a bird's eye perspective no doubt).
Expect more famous names to take their place if Federer and Djokovic meet in Sunday's final. You wouldn't want to bet against it happening.
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