Roger Federer Returns to Arthur Ashe for Exhibition Match Against Andy Roddick

Five-time US Open champion Roger Federer returns to Arthur Ashe Stadium on Tuesday night for a singles exhibition against Andy Roddick.

Roger Federer returns to Arthur Ashe Stadium on Tuesday night for his first match in the venue since 2019, facing Andy Roddick in a one-set singles exhibition. The 45-year-old Swiss star, who secured five consecutive U.S. Open championships from 2004 to 2008, will also compete in a one-set doubles match alongside John McEnroe against the pairing of Roddick and Andre Agassi. This appearance marks Federer's first singles action since his 2021 Wimbledon quarterfinal defeat to Hubert Hurkacz, where he lost the final set 6-0.

Federer enters the New York event with 20 Grand Slam singles titles to his name, though he expressed uncertainty regarding his current form during a Monday news conference. He noted that his lengthy absence from competitive singles play has lasted approximately five years since that 2021 match at the All England Club. Despite his return to the court for this exhibition, Federer explicitly ruled out a professional comeback to major tournaments in his mid-40s, a path taken by Venus and Serena Williams, stating "No, no, no, no" when asked about a permanent return to the tour.

Career Milestones and Injury History

The Tuesday night exhibition serves as a precursor to Federer’s trip to Newport, Rhode Island, where he is scheduled for enshrinement in the International Tennis Hall of Fame this Saturday. His professional departure from the US Open was abrupt, as his 2019 quarterfinal loss to Grigor Dimitrov proved to be his final competitive appearance in Flushing Meadows. That same year, Federer reached the French Open semifinals and the Wimbledon final, losing the latter to Novak Djokovic in a fifth-set tiebreaker.

Following a semifinal loss to Djokovic at the 2020 Australian Open, Federer underwent knee surgery in February of that year, followed by a second procedure in May. Although he returned for the 2021 French Open, he withdrew prior to his fourth-round match. After the subsequent loss to Hurkacz in August 2021, Federer underwent a third knee surgery, leading him to conclude that his knee could no longer endure the rigors of professional competition.

Return to Flushing Meadows

Federer’s name appeared on the Arthur Ashe Stadium big board ahead of his Monday afternoon practice session, drawing significant attention from fans around the grounds. While he has visited the stadium as a spectator in recent years, receiving a standing ovation when shown on the screen, he described this week as a true opportunity to offer a formal goodbye to the New York crowd. He joked that he and Roddick should remain respectful during their set by avoiding excessive drop shots against one another.

Currently, Federer maintains his fitness through gym workouts but admitted to going through long periods without playing on a tennis court. He emphasized that the decision to retire was driven by both physical limitations and a lack of mental patience to wait years for further recovery. The upcoming exhibition matches on Monday and Tuesday provide the 20-time major winner a platform to express gratitude to a fan base that supported his dominance during the mid-2000s.

Exhibition Format and Schedule

The event schedule places Federer in the spotlight for two distinct formats on the stadium court. The singles set against Roddick revisits one of the prominent rivalries of Federer's championship era, while the doubles set introduces Hall of Fame legends McEnroe and Agassi into the competition. Federer remains focused on these short-form sets rather than a return to the grueling best-of-five format characteristic of the Grand Slam events he once led. This stop in New York remains a singular event on his itinerary before the official Hall of Fame ceremony transitions him into the next phase of his post-playing career.