Tennis legend Roger Federer will return to Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne this January to headline a “Battle of the World No.1s” event, officially launching the 2026 Australian Open. This will be his first appearance at the venue since retiring in 2022.
The opening ceremony, held on the evening before the tournament begins on 18 January, will feature a tribute to Federer, who has won the Norman Brookes Trophy six times among his 20 Grand Slam titles. He will also take part in a star-studded match alongside Andre Agassi, Pat Rafter, and Lleyton Hewitt.
Federer said: “It feels like a lifetime ago that I called the Australian Open the ‘Happy Slam’. I still smile thinking of all the moments I’ve had there – lifting the trophy six times, playing in front of Rod Laver, and competing against my biggest rivals. Winning in 2017 and 2018 are some of my most treasured memories in Melbourne.”
Federer’s other AO wins came in 2004, 2006, 2007, and 2010.
