Roger Federer celebrates profession with exhibition matches at Australian Open kick-off

The Australian Open’s first formal opening ceremony grew to become the Roger Federer present on the eve of the season-opening main.

The band Crowded Home performed a hit-filled setlist to a capability crowd within the 15,000-seat Rod Laver Enviornment. Laver himself, 87, sat courtside. Report-setting champion Novak Djokovic watched from the stands. 

Federer, a six-time Australian Open winner and 20-time Grand Slam champion, partnered with previous champions Andre Agassi after which Ash Barty in an exhibition doubles match towards Pat Rafter and Lleyton Hewitt as the principle function of this system.

It went to script, with Federer profitable the primary level regardless of framing a forehand after which emphatically ending off the victory with a leaping overhead winner.

Federer was again in Australia for the primary time since 2021, making the journey now as a result of he retired from aggressive tennis earlier than he might do a farewell season tour. He mentioned, “It is tremendous vital to be grateful” to earlier generations of stars. 

“It actually really means a lot to me when folks like Rocket (Laver) present up,” Federer mentioned.  

This 12 months, the Australian Open is a three-week pageant of tennis. Over 217,000 followers have attended exhibitions and qualifying occasions prior to now six days. The primary draw singles competitors will start on Sunday. Djokovic will play his opening match on Monday. Seven-time Grand Slam singles champion Venus Williams is ready to play, changing into the oldest lady ever to compete within the Australian Open’s foremost draw. 

Australian Open organizers turned the 2026 occasion right into a three-week pageant of tennis, with 217,999 followers attending throughout six days to observe exhibitions, qualifying and the 1 Level Slam earlier than the principle draw began.