On the courts of Melbourne Park, the familiar voice of tennis greatness echoed once again — Roger Federer returned to be the central figure of the first official opening ceremony of the Australian Open, dedicated to the 2026 tournament. This is his first appearance in Australia since 2021, which sparked a storm of emotions among devoted fans.
During the event, the 20-time Grand Slam champion participated in an exhibition doubles match, where his partners were Andre Agassi and Ashleigh Barty. Their opponents included well-known Australian tennis players Pat Rafter and Lleyton Hewitt. Federer's performance was met with enthusiastic applause, and the audience was once again able to enjoy his distinctive style and elegant play.
The ceremony was part of an extensive tennis festival that lasted several weeks and attracted 217,999 spectators in just six days, confirming the high interest in the tournament and Federer’s enduring popularity, despite having retired in 2022.
During his visit, Federer also commented on rumors of a possible return to professional sports through a wildcard invitation. With a smile, he dismissed these speculations, emphasizing that his physical and mental state does not allow him to return to competitive tennis, and noted that he is completely satisfied with his life after retirement.
Throughout his career, Roger Federer won the Australian Open six times, and he often referred to the 2017 final against Rafael Nadal as his favorite match in Melbourne. This ceremony served as a symbolic farewell to Australian fans and a tribute to Federer’s outstanding contribution to the world of tennis.
