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Roger Federer returned to the US Open courts for the first time since 2019 and recorded two exhibition victories.
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The 20-time Grand Slam champion defeated Andy Roddick in singles before teaming up with John McEnroe in doubles.
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Federer received a huge reception from fans at Arthur Ashe Stadium as he revisited one of the most important venues of his career.
August 26, (THEWILL) — Roger Federer was back on the US Open court, and at 45, the Swiss great gave New York fans another chance to watch one of tennis’ biggest names in action.
Federer made a winning return to Arthur Ashe Stadium on Tuesday as part of an exhibition event titled “An Icon Returns to New York.” He first defeated fellow former world number one Andy Roddick in singles before returning to the court with John McEnroe for a doubles victory over Roddick and Andre Agassi.
It was Federer’s first appearance on the US Open courts since 2019, and the response from the crowd showed just how much affection remains for the 20-time Grand Slam champion.
For Federer, New York has always been a special place.
He won the US Open men’s singles title five years in a row from 2004 to 2008, matching the Open Era record held by Pete Sampras and Jimmy Connors.
Those victories played a major role in establishing his place among the greatest players the sport has produced, and returning to the same court years after his professional career ended brought back plenty of memories.
“It’s great to be back in New York,” Federer said. “It’s incredible.”
The Swiss also looked back at some of his earliest experiences in the city, including his first appearance on the tournament’s main court.
That came against Agassi in 2001, when Federer was still finding his feet at the highest level.
The American legend won that match comfortably, 6-1, 6-2, 6-4.
Federer could laugh about the result now, remembering how the defeat showed him that success at that level would not come easily.
More than two decades later, the atmosphere was very different.
This time, Federer was the player the New York crowd had come to see.
The exhibition gave fans the opportunity to watch four familiar names from different generations share the same court. Federer and McEnroe joined forces against Roddick and Agassi after Federer’s singles meeting with Roddick.
Although there were no ranking points or a Grand Slam title at stake, the occasion still carried plenty of significance.
Federer retired from professional tennis in 2022 after a career that included 20 Grand Slam singles titles, six Australian Open titles, one French Open crown, eight Wimbledon championships and five US Open victories.
His return to Arthur Ashe Stadium was therefore less about making another competitive comeback and more about revisiting a place where some of his greatest memories were created.
What a pass from Roger pic.twitter.com/vMVRoedYqR
— Larik (@RehanLarik) August 26, 2026
The 45-year-old made the most of it, leaving the court with two exhibition wins and another memorable night in front of the New York crowd.
And while Federer is no longer chasing another US Open title, his appearance showed that his relationship with the tournament remains as strong as ever.
For one night, the champion was back where so much of his legacy was built, and the fans were more than happy to welcome him home.
Olumide Atiba is a sports journalist with THEWILL, known for his keen news sense and compelling storytelling. He has built a reputation for turning leads into clear, well-structured reports that resonate with readers, with a strong focus on football coverage
