Copyright © 2015. No duplication is permitted without permission from Bob Larson Tennis.

Roger Federer has revealed an until-now hidden passion for the kitchen, with the defending champion successfully designing a tasty pizza to be served at this week’s Shanghai Masters.

The Swiss defending champion was last year offered the chance to dream up a pizza recipe, with the resulting product put on the plate at the restaurant-quality players’ lounge by chefs at the Qi Zhong Stadium.

The idea is on its way to becoming a tradition, with the previous year’s winner now allowed to design a pizza to be served at the subsequent edition.

The event has laid on signature pizzas for the last five years, but all have basically been piloted by tournament director Michael Luevano. Now, the winners of singles and doubles are getting in on the culinary act.

“Look, you can become a member of the All England Club by winning the Wimbledon singles championship so you have to win the Shanghai Rolex Masters and you then can create your own pizza,” Luevano told Federer.

For his choice, 34-year-old family man Federer judiciously chose some of his favorite ingredients in what tasters have said is a winning pie combination.

“Last year they said in the quarters that if I won the tournament I could get my pizza as well, part of the pizza competition, and that’s exciting,” said the second seed who started in the second round after a bye against either Sam Querrey or a qualifier.

“Because all of the classic pizzas were taken, I came up with one that I like – figs, arugula salad, prosciutto, and creme fraiche, and extra mozzarella if you like. So you should try it out.” He also proudly proclaimed: “It’s the Figalicious. I don’t know if you know, but the name is really important.”

Copyright © 2015. No duplication is permitted without permission from Bob Larson Tennis.