Roger Federer is returning to the US Open this year for two exhibition matches before the tournament gets underway, organisers have confirmed. The legendary Swiss player won at Flushing Meadows on five occasions before calling time on his tennis career in 2022. Four years later, he is poised to return to New York to delight the crowds before the main competition starts.
Return confirmed by US Open organisers
Federer's return was confirmed by US Open bosses, who said on X (formerly Twitter): "An icon is returning to New York!" Federer will be joined by 2003 US Open champion and longtime rival Andy Roddick, as well as fellow tennis legends and US Open champions Andre Agassi and John McEnroe.
A one-night exhibition will see Federer go up against Roddick in a one-set showdown, before teaming up with McEnroe to face Roddick and Agassi in a one-off doubles battle.
Five titles at Flushing Meadows
Federer's tally of five titles at Flushing Meadows is a joint-record in the Open era, sharing the achievement with Pete Sampras and Jimmy Connors. Ahead of his return, the 45-year-old spoke of his excitement on social media and made it clear that New York still means a lot to him.
"Looking forward to being back in New York and adding new memories to so many special ones over the years," he said. "See you soon NYC."
Fan Week and the main draw
Federer's appearance will be one of the main attractions during Fan Week, but the focus will quickly move to the current generation when the main singles draw gets underway. It has been billed as one of the most open Grand Slams in recent memory, with Jannik Sinner not competing and Carlos Alcaraz having only just returned from a long-term injury absence.
The young Spaniard will go into the tournament as the favourite to claim the spoils, but there are question marks given that he has not played a competitive match since April. If he is knocked out in the early rounds, it will open the door for the likes of Alexander Zverev and Novak Djokovic to get their hands on the trophy. Ben Shelton and Taylor Fritz will also be hoping to go deep in New York, with American players often performing better than expected at their home Grand Slam.
