Roger Federer Set for Arthur Ashe Stadium Return in New York

Roger Federer will return to Arthur Ashe Stadium on Tuesday for a celebratory doubles exhibition during fan week ahead of the US Open, marking his first time playing on the court since 2019. The 20-time Grand Slam champion said the appearance offers him a meaningful opportunity to thank the New York supporters who did not get a traditional farewell at the tournament.

Federer will join former rivals Andy Roddick, Andre Agassi and John McEnroe for the exhibition, scheduled before the US Open begins on Sunday. Between them, the four players have won 12 US Open men’s singles titles, bringing a notable collection of the tournament’s past champions back onto its main stage.

“It really gives me a true opportunity to say thank you,” Federer said at a news conference on Monday, where he discussed both the New York event and his upcoming induction into the International Tennis Hall of Fame later this week in Newport.

A return after an unfinished New York goodbye

Federer’s last competitive appearance at the US Open came in 2019, when he lost to Grigor Dimitrov in the quarter-finals. At that stage, Federer had intended to continue his playing career, meaning the match was not expected to be his final one at the tournament.

He did play on after 2019, but injuries kept him out of the US Open in 2020 and 2021. His final match eventually came at the Laver Cup in September 2022. As a result, New York fans did not receive the kind of on-court sendoff that has accompanied the departures of other major champions, including Agassi and Serena Williams.

The Tuesday exhibition gives Federer a chance to return in a different setting: not as part of the tournament draw, but as one of four former US Open champions sharing the court for a fan-week event. The timing also fits with his Hall of Fame plans in Newport, where he is due to be inducted later this week.

Federer has taken part in some exhibitions since retiring, but said the opportunity for a New York appearance had only come together this year. He also noted that his family could enjoy seeing him play, with his four children now older.

“The kids are getting older,” Federer said. “So they can also maybe enjoy a little bit seeing, their dad play.”

Federer expects a fun, respectful exhibition

Federer made clear that Tuesday’s match is intended as an exhibition rather than a return to the demands of elite competition. He said he expects a respectful contest with an intensity level that will not be too high, while still giving fans the chance to watch the former rivals play together again.

“We’re not playing best of five,” Federer said. “I hope it’s going to be a lot of fun for us and the same for the fans to just see us back out playing.”

The format places Federer alongside Roddick, Agassi and McEnroe, all of whom have significant US Open history. Their combined 12 men’s singles titles underline the stature of the group and make the exhibition a major part of the tournament’s fan-week schedule.

Federer also firmly dismissed the idea that his appearance could lead to a competitive comeback. Asked whether he had any interest in a wildcard, he repeatedly answered no and said the barriers to returning were too great.

“There’s just way too many obstacles, and I’m too busy,” Federer said. “All good and just just a fan now, just enjoying watching.”

For Federer, the Arthur Ashe Stadium appearance is therefore not a step toward another campaign at the US Open. Instead, it is a brief return to a court where his 2019 run ended unexpectedly, and an opportunity to acknowledge the New York audience before the tournament starts on Sunday.