By Richard Pagliaro | Monday, August 24, 2026
Picture credit score: Darren Carroll/Getty for USTA
Time journey isn’t an possibility in New York Metropolis.
Returning to the US Open as we speak, Roger Federer felt flashbacks to his days of dominance in Flushing Meadows—and conceded the “nerve-wracking” feelings forward of his exhibition in Arthur Ashe Stadium tomorrow night time.
The 20-time Grand Slam champion Federer will return to Arthur Ashe Stadium tomorrow night time for Roger Federer: An Icon Returns to New York occasion on the US Open. Federer will be a part of forces with fellow former US Open champions Andre Agassi, John McEnroe and Andy Roddick in a doubles exhibition. ESPN2 and ESPN+ will televise Federer’s return tomorrow night time.
Wanting match and relaxed, Federer drew a full home of media for as we speak’s presser. It’s a transformative week for Federer, who shall be inducted into the Worldwide Tennis Corridor of Fame together with pioneering broadcaster Mary Carillo in Newport on Saturday.
The 45-year-old Swiss stylist stated he’s relishing reviewing his profession highlights forward of his return.
“This one is clearly particular, you already know, with The Icon Returns to New York, after which going to Newport, Rhode Island, and going for the primary time over there, truly,” Federer stated as we speak. “Getting inducted instantly is clearly tremendous particular. It means quite a bit. Yeah, and it’s good to look again, I suppose, yet another time, as a result of life goes fast, particularly when you may have 4 kids.
“You cease remembering what you probably did or what you may have been via. So it’s like going right into a time machine and every little thing slows down for a second and you may truly look again yet another time. As a result of I don’t want it in my life, however it’s good when it does occur, as a result of my life on tour was superb. I liked it.”
The previous world No. 1 was in Melbourne for the beginning of the Australian Open this yr. Novak Djokovic knocked off Jannik Sinner to return to the AO ultimate.
Rallying from a set down, the 22-year-old Carlos Alcaraz powered previous Novak Djokovic 2-6, 6-2, 6-3, 7-5 to seize his first AO championship and make historical past because the youngest man to finish the profession Grand Slam.
Requested to evaluate the 39-year-old Serbian famous person’s shot of capturing a twenty fifth main title in New York, Federer says Djokovic has a shot to win his first Grand Slam because the he gained the 2023 US Open.
“I really feel like at any time when Novak enters any event, for that matter, or a serious, he’ll have a shot,” Federers stated. “Anyway, that’s my opinion. I’ve many excessive regards of Novak. I’ve see what he can do, not simply as soon as, not simply right here or there. He’s executed it in each place and on the highest of ranges.
“I all the time suppose that so long as he’s within the draw, there’s an opportunity. I believe that’s additionally one of many causes he’s nonetheless taking part in, as a result of he truly actually should imagine that he can nonetheless do it. That’s my opinion, too.
“and we performed one another nearly 50 instances on all completely different surfaces and all the most important courts. He was a pleasure to play in opposition to. Unimaginable participant, unbelievable fighter. Found out his sport, turned greater and stronger and higher. It’s superb he’s nonetheless going. I’m very impressed.”
Reigning champion Carlos Alcaraz was spectacular defeating Sinner within the 2025 US Open ultimate. Requested to pick the younger star he’d wish to face in his prime, Federer chosen Sincaraz.
“Yeah, effectively, perhaps Carlos. I believe he’s thrilling. I by no means received an opportunity to play in opposition to him,” Federer stated. “Or Sinner, the identical. We solely practiced collectively slightly bit as they had been developing. So I missed that era, sadly, slightly bit. There’s a bunch of these guys I simply missed simply due to my knee concern.
“Clearly Novak could be cool too. He’s nonetheless going robust. He’s nonetheless hanging in there, which is cool. So I’m pondering largely clearly about these guys. It’s good to see Carlos again. I’m completely satisfied he made it in time. We’ll see how he’s going to really feel. I don’t have to fret about how I might play him, as a result of I’m not there within the draw, however I want him the very best.”
Twenty-eight years in the past a teenage Federer reached the US Open boys’ ultimate falling to a younger Argentinean named David Nalbandian.
The grasp of so many Flushing Meadows finals Sunday proved to be an enormous draw on opening Monday.
Following his presser, Federer took to Arthur Ashe Stadium court docket and follow with Lorenzo Musetti, who grew up idolizing the Swiss Maestro, earlier than 1000’s of followers.
On the peak of his powers, Federer performed ballet with the ball turning a tennis match right into a dance.
Years after his final dance at Wimbledon, Federer stated it’s the human powerful that resonates most when he seems again on his superb profession.
“For me, if I look again, that’s form of what I’m very completely satisfied about, that I went via 25 years on tour, and truly felt like I made a whole lot of associates and lots of people miss me,” Federer stated. “Identical with followers. They arrive as much as me and say, What a disgrace you’re not taking part in anymore.
“Then I get a flashback saying it was an incredible time, and I say it each time, I liked it, and it’s a disgrace I can’t be on the tour anymore, however it was an amazing, nice time and I miss it dearly. Then I truly had the chance to play, let’s say, night time classes right here in a US Open ultimate, even one would have been lots. As a result of if you enter right into a finals of this type of magnitude event, it teaches you a lot, it reveals you the way far you’ve come, and endlessly you’ll be able to consider that second.
“So fortunately I’ve lots of these, not that I wanted it, however it’s simply unimaginable that once I look again on the US Open, for example, it makes me so proud to have seen, like, every little thing I skilled right here, you already know.”
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