Myla (l.) and Charlene Federer (r.) with their mother Mirka (middle) in the stands in Melbourne. © APA/afp / WILLIAM WEST
The Australian Open has always attracted international celebrities, nothing new. However, several visitors were spotted at Jannik Sinner’s opening match who otherwise rarely wear their world-famous last names in public.
20 January 2026
From: fop
In the Rod Laver Arena on Tuesday, Myla and Charlene Federer, among others, followed the action together with Cruz Hewitt and thus attracted special attention in the stands. However, they were only offered brief entertainment there: Sinner won after just 70 minutes, as his opponent Hugo Gaston gave up after two sets.
Cruz Hewitt is the 17-year-old son of Lleyton Hewitt, multiple Grand Slam winner and former number one in the tennis world. Hewitt Junior is a tennis professional himself. He failed in the first qualifying round in singles at the Australian Open, but is still in action in doubles.
Special symbolic meaning
For the daughters of tennis icon Roger Federer, the visit to Melbourne has a special symbolic meaning. Myla and Charlene were not yet born when their father played here for the first time in a Grand Slam tournament 26 years ago and laid the foundation for one of the greatest careers in sports history. Now they returned to the place where Federer made tennis history – this time as enthusiastic spectators.
The appearance in Melbourne is part of a family trip to the Australian Open 2026. Roger Federer, who ended his active career in 2022, is traveling through Australia with his four children. In addition to the 16-year-old twins Myla and Charlene, the 11-year-olds Leo and Lenny and Federer’s wife Mirka are also there. They use the tournament days to attend matches, take souvenir photos and experience the sport of tennis up close.
Federer’s family trip Down Under
For Federer himself it was an emotional return. At the opening ceremony of the Australian Open, the 20-time Grand Slam winner was back in the Rod Laver Arena for the first time in six years, where he played an exhibition doubles match with his long-time rival Andre Agassi, among others. A moment that his family didn’t want to miss – and which once again showed that the connection between Roger Federer and Melbourne remains unbroken even after the end of his career.
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