Roger Federer Wows in Melbourne Return, But Shuts Down Wildcard Talk with Classic Honesty
Roger Federer may have hung up his racquet in 2022, but if you caught even a glimpse of his surprise return to the court on Friday, you’d be forgiven for thinking he never left. The 20-time Grand Slam champion, now 44, stepped back onto the hard courts of Melbourne Park for a special tiebreaker match-and promptly reminded everyone why he’s one of the most beloved figures in tennis history.
Facing off against Casper Ruud, the 12th seed at this year’s Australian Open, Federer didn’t just hold his own-he dominated. The Swiss icon cruised to a 7-2 win in the mini-match, drawing gasps from the crowd and sending social media into a frenzy.
The age gap? Seventeen years.
The rust? Nowhere to be seen.
The elegance? Still there in every stroke.
It was vintage Federer-fluid footwork, effortless timing, and that signature grace under pressure. Fans didn’t just cheer; they started dreaming.
Could he actually still do this? Could Federer, with a bit of prep time, still go toe-to-toe with the game’s best?
One fan summed it up best: *“Even at this age, I can bet that he can easily beat many on the tour with some match practice!” * Another added, *“Roger would still be within the top 10 if his body had held up.”
- And then there was the fan who spoke for all of us: *“I literally got chills watching Roger return that serve down the line! His strokes are still magic.”
The calls for a comeback grew louder by the hour. Some even floated the idea of a wildcard entry into the Australian Open. After all, Federer has won the title six times, and Melbourne has always been a special place for him.
But when asked directly whether he’d ever consider accepting a wildcard into a Grand Slam, Federer didn’t hesitate. His answer was clear, and classic Roger-gracious, honest, and with just the right touch of humor.
“No, no, no, no,” he said with a smile. “I’m not here to play, my calf is twitchy, the body is not ready, the mind is not ready!”
He went on to reflect on his deep connection with the tournament:
“It feels like a lifetime ago that I coined the phrase the ‘Happy Slam’ for the Australian Open, and it still makes me smile when I think about all the moments I’ve had here. I’ve experienced so many emotions on Rod Laver Arena. The joy of lifting ‘Norman’ six times, the honour of playing in front of Rod Laver himself, the challenge of competing against my biggest rivals, and always the overwhelming love and support of the Australian fans.”
This trip, he said, was about soaking it all in-not chasing another trophy. With his family in tow, including his parents, Federer described the visit as a nostalgic return to a place that helped shape his legendary career.
Still, the competitive fire hasn’t completely dimmed. On Saturday, Federer was back on court again-this time teaming up with Andre Agassi in an exhibition match against Aussie legends Lleyton Hewitt and Pat Rafter. The crowd loved every second of it.
So no, Federer won’t be launching a surprise run at the 2026 Australian Open. But for a few magical moments in Melbourne, he gave fans a glimpse of the maestro in motion-reminding us all why we fell in love with his game in the first place.
And if you’re still holding out hope? Well, Federer’s serve might be retired, but clearly, his touch never left.