Roger Federer Reflects on Tennis as He Returns to the Australian Open
In Melbourne, on his long-overdue farewell tour at the tournament famously dubbed the “Happy Slam,” Roger Federer shared his thoughts on the current state of tennis. The 20-time Grand Slam champion maintained his characteristic diplomacy, refraining from advising Carlos Alcaraz on the challenges of achieving a career Grand Slam, despite Alcaraz’s three major titles.
Federer also chose not to engage in speculation regarding Serena Williams’s potential return to tennis, a rumor that Williams herself has dismissed.
Federer’s illustrious career saw him win five titles each at the U.S. Open and Wimbledon, along with three Australian Opens. He completed his career Grand Slam in 2009 by capturing the elusive Roland Garros title, a venue where Rafael Nadal has historically dominated.
Carlos Alcaraz, currently at the top of the rankings, has secured back-to-back Wimbledon titles in 2023 and 2024, consecutive French Opens in 2024 and the previous year, and the U.S. Open in 2022 as well as last year. However, the Australian Open remains a hurdle, with his rival Jannik Sinner claiming the last two titles there.
“He knows about it. It’s like Rory (McIlroy) going for the Masters, you know, those things are tough,” Federer remarked following the draw for the season’s first major. “His momentum (now) shifts toward the first round and then it’s point for point mentality. That’s what it is.
“But it’s true, at his young age, to be able to complete the career Grand Slam already now, I mean, would be crazy. … I hope he does because for the game, that would be an unbelievable special moment.”
Federer acknowledged the competition within the draw, including his long-time adversary Novak Djokovic, a 10-time Australian Open champion.
The rivalry between Alcaraz and Sinner has become a highlight over the past two years, with the two athletes sharing the eight major titles between them. “The rivalry between Alcaraz and Sinner, I think, is a great one. They play incredible tennis,” Federer commented. “That French Open final was unreal. It just ended up in this most crazy fashion, maybe one of the greatest games we’ve ever had in our sport.”
Federer has returned to the Australian Open for the first time since his 2020 semifinal defeat and his subsequent retirement in 2022. He is set to play a prominent role in the tournament’s inaugural gala opening ceremony scheduled for Saturday night.
When questioned about Serena Williams’s future in tennis, Federer reflected on the mixed signals. Williams recently posted on social media that she’s “NOT coming back”, despite registering with the International Tennis Integrity Agency, a necessary step for any player looking to come out of retirement.
“I mean, I heard that she entered the doping program, and then I heard that she said she’s not coming back,” Federer noted. “I mean, obviously for the game it would be incredible … Serena is such a legend to come back.
“If she decides not to do it, or just maybe give herself an option — it’s great to have options in life, in my opinion. Let’s see what she does and wait for an announcement, or not.”
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