"But I don’t have to worry about how I would play him because I am not there in the draw": Who in the current crop would Roger Federer like to duel with at US Open?

Roger Federer would love the opportunity to duel with Carlos Alcaraz as well as Jannik Sinner, the current lynch pins of men's tennis as he returns to the US Open to play an exhibition at the age of 40 prior to the action starting next week. It is a semi rare sight for fans as Federer has often swerved playing any tennis whether exhibition or not priorly.

But as a result, the questions arise surrounding who perhaps he would have duelled with if he had the time again and of course a few come to mind including ironically one of his former sparring partners who he also lavished praise on and believes he could yet figure in the US Open mix.

“Maybe Carlos [Alcaraz]. I think he is exciting. I never got the chance to play against him,” Federer replied when asked about who he would like to face out of the current crop of tennis stars. Sinner is the same. We only practiced together a little bit, as they were coming up, so I missed that generation unfortunately. There is a bunch of those guys who I just missed because of my knee issues," said Federer.

“Obviously Novak would be cool too, he is still going strong and still hanging in there. I am thinking mostly about those guys. It’s nice to see Carlos back and I’m happy that he made it in time, so we will see how he’s going to feel. But I don’t have to worry about how I would play him because I am not there in the draw, but I wish him the best!”

With the mixed doubles starting today at the US Open, Federer also was asked if he thinks he would've played in it and he also gave a semi diplomatic answer in that he likely would've joined someone in the ilk of Martina Hingis or Belinda Bencic, the latter he played with during the Hopman Cup and that perhaps he would've been involved. Albeit he did urge caution over the format.

“I don’t know if I would have played. Maybe I would have done,” the Swiss legend stated. "I think it’s an interesting trial. I don’t know if it’s going to be like this forever.

“It’s a different concept for the fans and the tournament, but now that I’m here in New York after hearing about it last year and just being on the periphery watching it, I am going to be much closer checking it out. I think I would have done okay, I don’t know who I would have played with to be honest. I would have had chances with [Martina] Hingis or Belinda [Bencic]. I don’t know who else I would have played with. It’s a cool concept. I like it when top singles guys put themselves out there and play doubles.

“That was also the idea of the Laver Cup, to get guys together to match up who usually don’t and also to see the top guys struggle, it’s not simple when you are not used to it.”

Albeit when breached with the idea of perhaps playing alongside Serena Williams, he said that likely Andy Roddick or someone else would've played with her so it is very much unlikely that he would've done himself.

“It would have been very cool, but I think she would have been booked up with Roddick or somebody! They were too close,” Federer said. I would have been totally okay and open for that, but that’s why I did not mention her. I felt like she had enough Americans to deal with before getting to me.”