The long-awaited return of the Swiss Roger Federer al Australian Open 2026 did not go unnoticed by any means, not even for one of his staunchest rivals during his award-winning career as the Serbian Novak Djokovic (4th), who was full of praise after saying he was present in the front row of the Opening Ceremony.
After participating in a training session with the Norwegian Casper Ruud (13th), the legendary Swiss player, 44 years old and retired in September 2022, starred in a luxury exhibition alongside the American Andre Agassi, and the locals Lleyton Hewitt, Patrick Rafter and Ashleigh Barty, under the watchful eye of 15,000 spectators at the Rod Laver Arena, kicking off a new edition of the first Grand Slam of the season.
Precisely the one who would go to the main state of Melbourne Park would be the Balkan stainless steel, 38, who would receive the greeting of ‘His Majesty’ in full match and he would fill him with praise in statements to Sony Sports Network: “It was amazing to see it again.. “I think I speak not only for myself, but for all the people who were watching him on the training court hitting for an hour with Casper Ruud.”
“He still has it, he always will. I mean, everything looks so perfect, so elegantlike in his best days,” highlighted the owner of 101 titles, 24 major ones, who won 27 of the 50 duels against the one born in Basel, building one of the most important rivalries of all time with the Spanish Rafael Nadal by sharing the main trophies on the men’s calendar for practically two decades.
Finally, the 10-time winner of the oceanic event, who decisively defeated the Spaniard Pedro MartÃnez (71st) in his debut to set new records, appreciated his appearance: “He has been around obviously with the Laver Cup and came to watch some matches at Wimbledon. But I think he had not been in Australia for several years and It’s great to have him back.“.
The Australian Open 2026 can be followed live on the Disney+ Premium Plan screen.
