Roger Federer, Swiss tennis legend, confirmed this Friday (12) his participation in an exhibition match at the opening ceremony of Australian Open 2026, in Melbourne.
At 44 years old, the former world number 1 returns to Rod Laver Arena for the first time since 2020, when he reached the semifinals of the tournament.
The event takes place on January 17, 2026, the day before the start of Grand Slam, and brings together four former leaders of the ATP rankings: Federer, Andre Agassi, Patrick Rafter and Lleyton Hewitt.
The initiative celebrates 120 years of Australian Open and marks Federer’s official goodbye to Australian fans, following his retirement in 2022 due to knee injuries.
- Date: January 17, 2026, at 7pm local time (Melbourne time).
- Location: Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne Park.
- Participants: Roger Federer (Switzerland), Andre Agassi (USA), Patrick Rafter (Australia) and Lleyton Hewitt (Australia).
- Format: Batalha of former number 1s, with homage to Federer.
Time travel final boss 🤓
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen)December 12, 2025
Our first-ever Opening Ceremony is going to be EPIC with Roger in town.pic.twitter.com/DTvegrmEkd
Achievements of Federer on Happy Slam
The Swiss lifted the Australian Open trophy six times, in 2004, 2006, 2007, 2010, 2017 and 2018.
These titles highlight his dominance on hard courts, with victories over rivals such as Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic.
The last final, in 2018, came after a campaign that included overcoming early injuries.
Inaugural ceremony details
The organization introduces the opening ceremony as an annual tradition for the tournament.
Director Craig Tiley emphasized the presence of icons to start the season of Grand Slams.
Tickets are now on sale, starting at 179 Australian dollars for the most affordable sector.
The focus is on Rod Laver Arena, the stage for Federer’s 103 victories in his career.
Other former number 1s confirmed
Andre Agassi has four titles in Australian Open and eight Grand Slams in total.
He faced Federer in memorable finals, like the 2005 Melbourne.
Patrick Rafter, two-time US Open champion, represents the Australian era with his aggressive style.
Lleyton Hewitt, winner of two majors, including the US Open in 2001, is a local idol for his home campaigns.
Injury history leading to retirement
Federer underwent three surgeries on his right knee between 2016 and 2020.
These procedures limited their participation in tournaments after 2020.
In 2021, he only played Wimbledon, where he was eliminated in the round of 16.
The decision to retire came in September 2022, during Laver Cup, alongside Nadal.
Expectations for the 2026 tournament
The main Australian Open starts on January 18th and runs until February 1st.
The entry list includes Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner and Novak Djokovic for men.
For women, names like Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek lead the favorites.
The exhibition of Federer precedes qualifiers that begin on January 12th.
Battle of former ranking leaders
The exhibition match, called Batalha of the Ex-Number 1s, lasts about two hours.
Players will use mixed formats such as doubles or short singles to entertain the audience.
Tiley highlighted the balance between nostalgia and innovation at the event.
Fans expect interactions between Federer and the Australians, who adopted him as an idol.
Federer’s emotional connection with Melbourne
Federer coined the term Happy Slam to describe the tournament in 2007.
He mentioned memories of wins in 2017 and 2018 as his most valuable.
The arena has seen epic duels, like the 2017 semi-final against Nadal.
His absence in 2021 and 2022 should intensify the reception in 2026.
Preparations for the 120th anniversary
Australian Open celebrates 120 years since its creation in 1905.
The ceremony includes multimedia elements about the history of the tournament.
Other new features include 1 Point Slam, with a prize of 1 million dollars.
Participants like Nick Kyrgios and celebrities complete the festive schedule.
Impact on tennis season
The return of Federer drives initial interest in ATP Tour.
He plans more exhibitions in 2026, such as at Laver Cup.
The presence attracts new spectators to the professional circuit.
Organizers predict maximum capacity at Rod Laver Arena for the 17th.
Roger Federer expressed gratitude for the Australian support in an official statement.
The Swiss tennis player, who has won 103 titles in his career, sees the event as a symbolic closure.
Since retirement, he has dedicated himself to business and philanthropy, but maintains ties to sport.
The display reinforces his position as the seventh tennis billionaire, according to sports rankings.
