A Long-Overdue Goodbye to New York
Roger Federer is heading back to Arthur Ashe Stadium, but not in the way fans once dreamed. The 45-year-old Swiss legend will take part in an exhibition match at Flushing Meadows, his first appearance at the iconic New York venue since Grigor Dimitrov defeated him in the 2019 US Open. A knee injury kept him out of the 2020 tournament, and he never returned before announcing his retirement in September 2022.
For a player who won the US Open five consecutive times, it always felt incomplete that Federer never received a proper farewell from the New York crowd. This exhibition, titled "Roger Federer: An Icon Returns to New York," gives him exactly that chance. "It really gives me a true opportunity to say thank you and goodbye, which I think is important for some," Federer said ahead of the event.
Legends on Court, Nerves Included
The format promises plenty of nostalgia. Federer will open with a singles set against Andy Roddick before joining forces with John McEnroe to take on Roddick and Andre Agassi in doubles. It is a lineup packed with major champions and serious star power.
Despite the exhibition setting, Federer admitted the nerves are very real. He pointed out that his last singles set came against Hubert Hurkacz at Wimbledon in 2021, making this his first competitive action in roughly five years. "I don't know how it's going to go," he confessed, "but there is a lot of happiness that I can return to Arthur Ashe."
No professional comeback is on the table. This is purely a celebration. TennisDraw users have been buzzing about the event, with Federer unsurprisingly dominating bracket conversation as the sentimental favorite of the night.
