Roger Federer Still Good Enough to Win US Open Matches, Says Mats Wilander

Federer Steps Back onto the New York Stage

Mats Wilander believes Roger Federer could still win one or two matches at the US Open.

The 20-time Grand Slam champion stepped back onto the court in New York this week. He drew widespread attention during an exhibition appearance alongside tennis legends John McEnroe, Andy Roddick, and Andre Agassi.

Shot-Making Remains Sharp Despite Absence

Federer retired from professional tennis in September 2022 at the Laver Cup. His final Grand Slam match came a year prior at Wimbledon in 2021.

Despite his long absence from the ATP Tour, his recent exhibition play on the famous center court in New York convinced former world number one Mats Wilander that the Swiss maestro retains his legendary shot-making ability.

Operating in Second or Third Gear

The seven-time Grand Slam champion remarked that the pace was moderate and estimated that Federer was operating in second or third gear while possessing the capacity to reach five gears.

“But he would have trouble recovering from the matches. That is the point when you are 45 years old—you can no longer recover accordingly.”

The Brutal Demands of Flushing Meadows

While the stroke-play and court craft remain elite, the relentless physical demands of best-of-five-set tennis at Flushing Meadows represent a different challenge altogether. Federer captured five consecutive US Open titles between 2004 and 2008, establishing a dominant legacy on the hard courts of New York that few players have matched in the Open Era.

The final Grand Slam tournament of the season runs from August 30 to September 13.