Tennis legends return: Federer and Agassi to compete at Australian Open
Photo: Roger Federer (instagram.com/lavercup)
Legendary Swiss tennis player Roger Federer has announced his return to the court three years after retiring from professional tennis. The 44-year-old star confirmed he will participate in an exhibition match during the 2026 Australian Open, marking a symbolic farewell to his Australian fans, according to the official tournament website.
Return of the top players
The event will take place on January 17 as part of the opening ceremony of the first Grand Slam of the season. The Swiss star will be joined by three other former world number ones – Andre Agassi, Patrick Rafter, and Lleyton Hewitt.
This will be Federer’s first appearance on the Australian courts since 2020, when he lost to Novak Djokovic in the tournament’s semifinals.
Over his career, Federer won 20 Grand Slam titles, including six Australian Open championships. After his first victory in Melbourne in 2004, he reached the world number one ranking for the first time and went on to hold the top spot for a record 237 consecutive weeks.
Legendary tennis players to compete at Australian Open
Federer on Happy Slam
The Swiss star emotionally commented on his return to Melbourne:
“It feels like a lifetime ago that I coined the phrase the ‘Happy Slam’ for the Australian Open, and it still makes me smile when I think about all the moments I’ve had here,” the tennis player said.
Australian Open director Craig Tiley highlighted the symbolic nature of the event:
“I’m thrilled we’re introducing this very special AO Opening Ceremony. While the AO has a reputation for innovation and is renowned for pushing the boundaries, we are also the custodians of a proud 120-year history filled with some of the sport’s greatest champions. This inaugural Opening Ceremony will mark the start of a new tennis season in spectacular fashion,” Tiley emphasized.
Earlier, we reported on Angelina Kalinina’s triumphant return, winning a tournament in France.
