Roger Federer to play in exhibition event ahead of US Open
Swiss tennis player Roger Federer is set to take part in an exhibition event at Flushing Meadows in New York on August 25, before the start of the US Open singles main draw. The event is intended to give him an opportunity to say goodbye to fans of the tournament, where he last played in 2019.
As Channel NewsAsia reports, citing Reuters, the event was called “US Open: Roger Federer — An Icon Returns to NY.” On Monday, August 24, ticket prices on the Ticketmaster resale platform exceeded $2,000.
Farewell to Flushing Meadows
Federer’s last match at the US Open took place in 2019, when he was eliminated in the quarterfinals. The Swiss player did not compete in the tournament in 2020, and played his last Grand Slam tournament at Wimbledon in 2021.
“It really gives me the opportunity to say ‘thank you’ and ‘goodbye,’ which I think is important for some people. It is important for me, and it is nice,” Federer said. He won the US Open five times in a row — no man has achieved such a result in the Open Era.
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Event participants
Other former tennis stars — Andy Roddick, Andre Agassi and John McEnroe — are set to play alongside Federer on the Arthur Ashe Stadium court. Federer said he is nervous about returning to the court after a long break.
“Honestly, it is nerve-racking. I haven’t played a single set, I don’t know, maybe in five years already. I don’t know how everything will be tomorrow,” he told reporters. Asked about the possibility of receiving a wildcard into the singles draw, Federer firmly declined, noting that he has too many obstacles and barely finds time for exhibition matches. “The body is done already,” he added.
Earlier the same day, Serena Williams, who recently resumed her career, was set to play a mixed doubles match with Carlos Alcaraz. The US Open men’s and women’s singles main draws begin on Sunday.
