Roger Federer’s Australian Open return locked in
Lionel Messi is one of the biggest global superstar’s but even still the scenes after he appeared at an Indian stadium was well and truly over the top.
Roger Federer has been confirmed as a headline act at the upcoming Australian Open.
On Friday, organisers announced Federer, the great six-time champion, will appear in what they hope will be a new Open tradition at the first-ever tournament opening ceremony on January 17.
Organisers confirmed Federer will play in a ‘Battle of the World No. 1s’ alongside four-time champ Andre Agassi and the home legends Pat Rafter and Lleyton Hewitt.
“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,” Federer said about his return Down Under.
“I’ve experienced so many emotions on Rod Laver Arena … the joy of lifting ‘Norman’ six times, the honour of playing in front of Rod Laver himself, the challenge of competing against my biggest rivals, and always the overwhelming love and support of the Australian fans.
“Coming back to win the AO in 2017 is one of my most treasured grand slam memories, and backing it up to win in 2018 (against Marin Cilic) was another dream come true in Melbourne.
“I can’t wait to come down under again to the AO and create more fantastic moments with all the Aussie fans.”
Shortly after announcing his return, his old friend and rival Rafa Nadal revealed he’d undergone surgery on his troublesome right hand as he joked he would be unavailable to play at the Aussie Open.
Alongside a photo of himself with his right arm bandaged and in a sling, the Spanish great wrote: “Looks like I won’t be able to play the Australian Open 2026.”
The pair shared an almighty rivalry, which included a pair of epics at Melbourne Park.
Nadal won the first of their Aussie Open battles in 2009, before Federer got his revenge in 2017.
Originally published as Roger Federer’s Australian Open return locked in
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