Legends Ignite Australian Open with Playful Exhibition
On the eve of the Australian Open 2026, Roger Federer and icons like Andre Agassi trade laughs and lobs in a doubles showcase on Rod Laver Arena, blending nostalgia with the tournament’s brewing intensity.
Under the Melbourne night sky on January 17, 2026, Rod Laver Arena buzzed as the Australian Open 2026 edged closer. Roger Federer, Andre Agassi, Lleyton Hewitt, and Patrick Rafter stepped onto the court for an exhibition doubles match during the opening ceremony, their No. 1 pedigrees drawing roars from a crowd hungry for the week’s action. The hard courts, with their quick bounces and medium pace, set the stage for a lighthearted clash that echoed the tactical demands awaiting Jannik Sinner as two-time defending champion.
“I have missed you and it is great to be back. It’s just where we left off, so many memories and nice to dive back into it.”
Federer seized the microphone first, his words slicing through the humid air like a crisp inside-out forehand, instantly bridging years of absence with the arena’s familiar energy. Hewitt bounced on his toes, channeling his all-court fire, while Rafter scanned the net with relaxed poise and Agassi hung back, eyes tracing potential returns. Rod Laver conducted the coin toss, his arrival prompting a standing ovation that amplified the evening’s blend of history and anticipation.
Hewitt‘s serve sparks early chaos
Hewitt opened on serve, the ball skidding low off the Plexicushion as Federer framed a forehand lob that improbably dropped over Rafter for a winner, eliciting laughs from the players and cheers from the stands. The contrast in styles emerged quickly: Agassi‘s baseline grinding countered Rafter’s serve-volley rushes, while Hewitt’s sharp angles forced hurried crosscourt replies. Played in a first-to-four format, the Australians claimed the opening set 4-2, their net play exploiting the surface’s skid to disrupt Federer’s rhythm.
The second set flipped to 2-4 in favor of Federer’s side, momentum shifting with each unforced error turned punchline. Agassi quipped about staying deep, his steady returns mimicking the defensive depth needed against power hitters like Carlos Alcaraz, who would debut Sunday. Rafter dodged forehands with playful evasion, his inside-in approaches pressuring the return side in ways that previewed the one–two patterns pros might deploy in the main draw.
Barty’s arrival seals the fun
Ashleigh Barty then replaced Agassi for the decider, her entrance met with thunderous applause from a home crowd still cherishing her 2022 triumph. She slotted into baseline rhythm seamlessly, pairing slice backhands with crosscourt winners alongside Federer’s precision passes. Their 4-2 victory in the third set thrilled the arena, especially with Novak Djokovic watching courtside, his 10 Australian Open titles a looming benchmark for the field.
Barty’s compact strokes looped heavy topspin that forced Hewitt into mid-court scrambles, highlighting the hard courts’ demand for versatile footwork against varied spins. The exhibition’s chaos—lobs kissing lines, volleys floating wide—offered emotional release before the tournament’s grind, where mental edges would decide deep runs. As the players shared post-match grins, the night underscored tennis’s enduring pull, from past rivalries to future chases.
“It was beautiful,” Federer said after. “It was fantastic. I couldn’t be any happier. Just being back in Melbourne with my friends, legends, rivals, is always a thrill. I am a big historian of the game and looked back at who has paved the way for us and this is a beautiful moment for tennis and obviously I am looking forward to the Australian Open.”
Agassi’s four AO crowns, Hewitt’s 2005 final grit, and Rafter’s 2001 semis run all lingered in the air, a psychological bridge to the pros facing endless practices and injury risks. With Sinner set to defend amid Djokovic’s experience and Alcaraz’s explosiveness, this ceremonial volley hinted at the joy fueling the pursuit of immortality on these courts. The real tests begin Sunday, but the legends’ levity promised a Slam season alive with possibility.
