“I can’t wait to come down under again”: Roger Federer confirmed for AO star-studded opening ceremony

Roger Federer has officially confirmed his presence at the inaugural Opening Ceremony of the upcoming Australian Open. This new event, debuting in 2025, will feature a host of legendary former World No. 1s gracing the courts of Melbourne Park.

The 20-time Grand Slam champion, who lifted six of his major trophies in Australia, last competed at the event in 2020, where he reached the semifinals before falling to eventual champion Novak Djokovic. Since that match, Federer has not returned to Melbourne Park—neither as a player nor a spectator.

The Opening Ceremony is set for Saturday, January 17, just one day before the tournament officially begins (running from Jan 18 to Feb 1).

According to organizers, Federer will join fellow 4-time Aussie Open champion Andre Agassi for a blockbuster exhibition match dubbed the "Battle of the World No. 1s." They will face off against local heroes and Australian legends Lleyton Hewitt and Patrick Rafter.

Federer expressed deep emotion about his return to a place that defined much of his career. “It feels like a lifetime ago that I coined the phrase the ‘Happy Slam’ for the Australian Open, and it still makes me smile when I think about all the moments I’ve had here,” Roger Federer said. “I’ve experienced so many emotions on Rod Laver Arena … the joy of lifting ‘Norman’ six times, the honour of playing in front of Rod Laver himself, the challenge of competing against my biggest rivals, and always the overwhelming love and support of the Australian fans.

“Coming back to win the AO in 2017 is one of my most treasured Grand Slam memories and backing it up to win in 2018 was another dream come true in Melbourne. I can’t wait to come down under again to the AO and create more fantastic moments with all the Aussie fans.”

The announcement came this Thursday via a statement from Tennis Australia and Tournament Director Craig Tiley. “I’m thrilled we’re introducing this very special AO Opening Ceremony,” the Aussie Open chief said. “While the AO has a reputation for innovation and is renowned for pushing the boundaries, we are also the custodians of a proud 120-year history filled with some of the sport’s greatest champions.

“This inaugural Opening Ceremony will mark the start of a new tennis season in spectacular fashion. I can’t wait to see Roger back on Rod Laver Arena, along with other greats of the game Andre, Pat and Lleyton. And I know fans across Australia will be just as excited to share this moment with him.”

Federer himself took to social media to share the news with his fans, posting a playful video. “Hi everyone, I’ve been thinking it’s really cold here in Switzerland and I need to make a trip again, and head back down…under,” he commented, rotating the camera upside down to reference his trip to the Southern Hemisphere.

For now, Federer remains the player with the most match wins in Australian Open history. He holds a staggering 102-15 record (87% win rate) across 21 appearances, which includes 6 titles, 1 runner-up finish (2009), and 8 semifinals.

He sits second on the all-time Melbourne titles list, trailing only Novak Djokovic’s 10 trophies. However, "Nole" could surpass Federer in total match wins this year. Djokovic currently sits at 99 wins. A run to the Round of 16 would see him tie the Swiss Maestro, and a Quarterfinal appearance would crown Djokovic as the player with the most wins in the tournament's history.