The first official opening ceremony of the Australian Open became the Roger Federer show on the eve of the season-opening major.
The band Crowded House played a hit-filled setlist to a packed house in the 15,000-seat Rod Laver Arena. Laver himself, 87, sat courtside. Record Champion Novak Djokovic watched from the stands.
Federer, a six-time Australian Open winner and 20-time Grand Slam champion, has teamed up with former champions Andre Agassi and then Ash Barty in a doubles exhibition match against Pat Rafter and Lleyton Hewitt as the main feature of the program.
It went to script, with Federer winning the first point despite a forehand, then emphatically finishing off the victory with a leaping overhead winner.
Dita Alangkara / AP
Federer was back in Australia for the first time since 2021, making the trip now because he retired from competitive tennis before he could go on a farewell season tour. He said: “It’s very important to be grateful” to previous generations of stars.
“It really means a lot to me when people like Rocket (Laver) show up,” Federer said.
This year’s Australian Open is a three-week tennis festival. More than 217,000 fans attended exhibitions and qualifying events over the past six days. The main draw singles competition begins on Sunday. Djokovic will play his opening match on Monday. Seven-time Grand Slam singles champion Venus Williams is ready to play, becoming the oldest woman to ever appear in the main draw of the Australian Open.
Australian Open organizers have turned the 2026 event into a three-week tennis festival, with 217,999 fans in attendance over six days to watch exhibitions, qualifying and the 1 Point Slam before the main draw begins.