Roger Federer is eagerly anticipating his return to Arthur Ashe Stadium this week, an emotional homecoming for the tennis legend. Federer will play in an exhibition doubles match on Tuesday night during 'fan week,' ahead of the US Open's official start on Sunday. The event will feature Federer teaming up with former rivals Andy Roddick and Andre Agassi, alongside John McEnroe. The quartet collectively boasts a dozen men's singles titles at the US Open.
Federer, who retired in September 2022, shared his thoughts at a news conference on Monday. 'It really gives me a true opportunity to say thank you,' he said, expressing gratitude to his fans and the sport that has defined his career. This match serves as a poignant prelude to his induction into the International Tennis Hall of Fame later this week in Newport.
New York fans missed a proper farewell for Federer, a 20-time Grand Slam champion, after his 2019 US Open quarterfinal loss to Grigor Dimitrov. Although he planned to continue playing, injuries sidelined him from the US Open in 2020 and 2021. His last professional match was at the Laver Cup in September 2022.
Despite having played in other exhibitions since retiring, Federer feels this New York match aligns perfectly with his upcoming Hall of Fame induction. 'The kids are getting older,' he noted, referring to his four children, two sets of twins aged 12 and 17. 'So they can also maybe enjoy a little bit seeing their dad play.'
Federer expects the match to be respectful and enjoyable, with a less intense level of competition. 'We're not playing best of five,' he clarified. 'I hope it's going to be a lot of fun for us and the same for the fans to just see us back out playing.' However, he firmly dismissed any notion of a tennis comeback, repeatedly stating, 'no' when asked about the possibility of a wildcard entry. 'There's just way too many obstacles, and I'm too busy,' he explained. 'All good and just a fan now, just enjoying watching.'
