MELBOURNE, Australia — The Australian Open commenced its first formal opening ceremony on the eve of the year’s initial Grand Slam with unmistakable focus on tennis legend Roger Federer. The event unfolded before a sold-out crowd of 15,000 spectators inside the Rod Laver Arena, a venue named after the esteemed Australian player Rod Laver who was present at 87 years of age, seated courtside to witness the celebrations.
The ceremony’s musical entertainment was provided by the acclaimed band Crowded House, which delivered a set comprising four of their popular songs, energizing the audience prior to the tennis events. However, the centerpiece of the evening was undoubtedly the exhibition doubles match featuring the six-time Australian Open champion and 20-time Grand Slam winner Roger Federer. He paired with past champions Andre Agassi and Ash Barty, facing off against Australian luminaries Pat Rafter and Lleyton Hewitt.
The match followed the anticipated narrative, with Federer effectively initiating the play by winning the first point, albeit after mishitting a forehand. He later clinched the victory in thrilling fashion with a spectacular leaping overhead shot that electrified the crowd.
Novak Djokovic, who holds the record with 10 Australian Open titles among his 24 major championships, was in attendance, observing the event ahead of competing in the tournament, which begins officially on Sunday for the singles main draw. Djokovic is scheduled to enter the competition with his first match on Monday.
Notably, the Australian Open has expanded its traditional format into a three-week extravaganza for its 2026 edition. The festival-like atmosphere has attracted close to 218,000 attendees over six days that included exhibition matches, qualifying rounds, and the unique 1 Point Slam event preceding the main draw.
For Federer, this marked a poignant return to Australian soil following his retirement from professional tennis in 2021, which occurred before he could stage a farewell tour. He expressed deep appreciation for the participation of Rod Laver, highlighting the importance of honoring the pioneers of the sport. Federer stated, “It really truly means so much to me when people like Rocket (Laver) show up. It’s super important to be grateful to earlier generations of stars.”