Roger Federer Exhibition Match Australian Open opening ceremony Highlights: Federer–Agassi–Barty win three-set thriller
Roger Federer Exhibition Match Australian Open opening ceremony Highlights: Catch the highlights from the ‘Battle of the world No. 1s’ doubles match at Rod Laver Arena
- 8:31 AM IST, Jan 17It's now that time…
- 7:52 AM IST, Jan 17Federer's still got it!
- 7:34 AM IST, Jan 17Is Federer pushing for a return to tennis spotlight?
- 7:27 AM IST, Jan 17Where to watch the match?
- 7:23 AM IST, Jan 17Federer 'nervous, excited' to be back at the Happy Slam
- 7:17 AM IST, Jan 17What is the ‘Battle of the World No. 1s’?

Roger Federer Exhibition Match Australian Open opening ceremony Highlights: What a way to bid farewell to the iconic Melbourne Park. Back at one of his most cherished venues, Roger Federer teamed up with not one, but two former world No. 1s to beat the Australian pair of Lleyton Hewitt and Pat Rafter 2-4, 4-2, 4-2 in the “Battle of the World No. 1s” doubles match on the Rod Laver Arena....Read More
Andre Agassi, who entertained not only with his backhand magic and a cheeky tweener, but also with constant digs at Federer, combined with the Swiss great to level the contest in the second set before calling out the surprise of the evening: Ash Barty.
The three-time Grand Slam champion, who won the Australian Open in 2022, partnered the 44-year-old Federer to see off Hewitt and Rafter in the deciding set.
This was Federer’s first appearance at Melbourne Park since 2020, having officially retired from the sport at the 2022 Laver Cup.
Federer was earlier seen in action on Friday when he took the practice courts with world number 13 Casper Ruud. The 44-year-old played a tie-break against the three-time Grand Slam finalist and won the shootout 7-2 in front of a packed crowd, proving he has still got it.
Federer won six of his 20 Grand Slam titles at Rod Laver Arena, the last coming in 2018 when he beat Marin Čilić in straight sets. It also proved to be the final major title of his storied career. His last appearance in Melbourne was in 2020, when he reached the semifinals before being stopped by eventual champion Novak Djokovic.
Roger Federer Exhibition Match Australian Open opening ceremony Live: Federer and Co. wins
Roger Federer Exhibition Match Australian Open opening ceremony Live: Federer pushes for the deciding points with another of his serve magic and then wraps up the match with an overhead smash volley.
Hewitt/Rafter 4-2, 2-4, 2-4 *Federer/Agassi (Barty)
Roger Federer Exhibition Match Australian Open opening ceremony Live: Aussies keep themselves alive in the match
Roger Federer Exhibition Match Australian Open opening ceremony Live: Federer takes a leaf out of Hewitt's volley magic to produce one of his own. The Swiss then went up against Rafter and Hewitt single-handedly. Barty simply left the court to join Agassi on the bench. The Aussies keep themselves alive in the match.
Hewitt/Rafter* 4-2, 2-4, 2-3 Federer/Agassi (Barty)
Roger Federer Exhibition Match Australian Open opening ceremony Live: Federer-Djokovic moment
Roger Federer Exhibition Match Australian Open opening ceremony Live: Federer realised it after the camera caught Djokovic's reaction on Barty winning that point against Rafter.
Roger Federer Exhibition Match Australian Open opening ceremony Live: Federer hugs Djokovic
Roger Federer Exhibition Match Australian Open opening ceremony Live: Agassi is not just watching from the bench; he is coaching his side, channelling his Laver Cup role. But the digs at Federer are still on. Meanwhile, Hewitt misses the smash to send Barty/Federer 40-15 up. Barty eventually wins the volley rally against Rafter.
Federer realises Djokovic is in the stands and he quickly walks up to him and hugs him. Just greatness recognising greatness!
Hewitt/Rafter* 4-2, 2-4 1-2 Federer/Agassi (Barty)
Roger Federer Exhibition Match Australian Open opening ceremony Live: Federer/Barty still in the match
Roger Federer Exhibition Match Australian Open opening ceremony Live: Federer brings out the tweener, but Barty errs in getting the forehand drop volley from Rafter over the net. Federer keeps his team in the match with a wonderful serve.
Hewitt/Rafter 4-2, 2-4 1-1 *Federer/Agassi (Barty)
Roger Federer Exhibition Match Australian Open opening ceremony Live: “Best kind of surprise”
Roger Federer Exhibition Match Australian Open opening ceremony Live: Barty, also a former world No. 1, won three Grand Slam titles - 2019 French Open, 2021 Wimbledon, and 2022 Australian Open - on the WTA tour during her short career. She also won 12 doubles titles, including a major at the 2018 US Open with CoCo Vandeweghe. Barty retired in 2022, just two months after her Australian Open haul.
Roger Federer Exhibition Match Australian Open opening ceremony Live: Ash Barty's here!!
Roger Federer Exhibition Match Australian Open opening ceremony Live: "Is there an Aussie Open winner here?" asks Agassi and in enters Ash Barty. The Aussie now teams up with Federer.
Roger Federer Exhibition Match Australian Open opening ceremony Live: Federer/Agassi level the score
Roger Federer Exhibition Match Australian Open opening ceremony Live: Can Federer level the score? Yes he does, and in quick time. "That is so good," exclaims Agassi. He is surely impressed.
Hewitt/Rafter 4-2, 2-4 *Federer/Agassi
Roger Federer Exhibition Match Australian Open opening ceremony Live: Agassi/Federer lead again
Roger Federer Exhibition Match Australian Open opening ceremony Live: Federer steps up to get the first point. And how does he do that? Goes aggressive at the net with a superb smash volley. But Agassi can't get the ball over the net it seems. And that is because he can't stop laughing. He has surely been the entertainer with the constant commentary and cheeky digs at Federer. But with a bit of help at the net, Agassi secures the break again.
Hewitt/Rafter* 4-2, 2-3 Federer/Agassi
Roger Federer Exhibition Match Australian Open opening ceremony Live: Rafter/Hewitt breaks back
Roger Federer Exhibition Match Australian Open opening ceremony Live: A double fault from Agassi and Rafter/Hewitt quickly surged ahead to get the break back.
Hewitt/Rafter* 4-2, 2-2 Federer/Agassi
Roger Federer Exhibition Match Australian Open opening ceremony Live: Agassi/Federer get the break
Roger Federer Exhibition Match Australian Open opening ceremony Live: With a bit of his backhand magic, Agassi gets the break for his team. They now lead the second set.
Hewitt/Rafter 4-2, 1-2 *Federer/Agassi
Roger Federer Exhibition Match Australian Open opening ceremony Live: Point of the tournament?
Roger Federer Exhibition Match Australian Open opening ceremony Live: This should already go down as the point of the tournament, which has yet to official begin.
Roger Federer Exhibition Match Australian Open opening ceremony Live: Rafter/Hewitt maintain lead
Roger Federer Exhibition Match Australian Open opening ceremony Live: Bit of Rafter vs Federer there, reviving their old rivalry, and it is the Aussie who emerged on top in the battle today.
Hewitt/Rafter 4-2, 1-0 *Federer/Agassi
Roger Federer Exhibition Match Australian Open opening ceremony Live: Aussie pair gets the first break
Roger Federer Exhibition Match Australian Open opening ceremony Live: Federer serves. Hewitt and Rafter quickly go 40-15 up before the Swiss brings out an ace to pull one back. Agassi then errs at the net with his volley as the Aussie pair gets the first break.
Hewitt/Rafter 4-2 *Federer/Agassi
Roger Federer Exhibition Match Australian Open opening ceremony Live: A bit of Hewitt magic
Roger Federer Exhibition Match Australian Open opening ceremony Live: Ohh my goodness...what a volley at the net from Hewitt. He would have taken that in his heyday. Hewitt comes up with another volley to keep his team in the lead.
Hewitt/Rafter* 3-2 Federer/Agassi
Roger Federer Exhibition Match Australian Open opening ceremony Live: Agassi/Federer level the score
Roger Federer Exhibition Match Australian Open opening ceremony Live: Time for Agassi to serve. A 165 kmph ace and he gets his team to 30-all, and then with a trick play, he evades Rafter's forehand that went over the baseline. "Keep it simple, Roger," he says. He then teases Rafter, saying that he will serve really slow and the later could not return a 109 kmph serve.
Hewitt/Rafter 2-2 *Federer/Agassi
Roger Federer Exhibition Match Australian Open opening ceremony Live: That opening point…
Roger Federer Exhibition Match Australian Open opening ceremony Live: By the way, Novak Djokovic is in the stands as well
Roger Federer Exhibition Match Australian Open opening ceremony Live: Rafter and Co. lead on serve
Roger Federer Exhibition Match Australian Open opening ceremony Live: Rafter serves it up beautifully to get his team 30-0 up, before erring at the net against a Federer forehand. The 44-year-old old then sends the next point over the line, before Rafter and co. maintains the lead on serve.
Hewitt/Rafter* 2-1 Federer/Agassi
Roger Federer Exhibition Match Australian Open opening ceremony Live: Agassi's still got it
Roger Federer Exhibition Match Australian Open opening ceremony Live: Ohhh...what a smash! Agassi still has the athleticism. Federer quickly makes it 30-0 after drawing a forehand error from Rafter. Agassi wins the final point with an unthinkable tweener. Hewitt is gob smacked.
Hewitt/Rafter 1-1 *Federer/Agassi
Roger Federer Exhibition Match Australian Open opening ceremony Live: Hewitt and Rafter take early lead
Roger Federer Exhibition Match Australian Open opening ceremony Live: Rafter shows he's still got it as he wins a rally at the net against Federer, but the Swiss responds on the next points. Agassi errs on the game decider to hand Hewitt and Rafter a 1-0 lead.
Hewitt/Rafter* 1-0 Federer/Agassi
Roger Federer Exhibition Match Australian Open opening ceremony Live: Match gets underway
Roger Federer Exhibition Match Australian Open opening ceremony Live: Hewitt serves. The Aussie goes with a wild forehand against Federer, who casually lobs it over Rafter and Hewitt as the ball finds the baseline. What a point!
Roger Federer Exhibition Match Australian Open opening ceremony Live: Toss time
Roger Federer Exhibition Match Australian Open opening ceremony Live: The legendary Rod Laver gets invited for the coin toss. Federer and Agassi win the toss and opt to receive.
Roger Federer Exhibition Match Australian Open opening ceremony Live: Time for Federer!
Roger Federer Exhibition Match Australian Open opening ceremony Live: Six-time champion in Melbourne, Federer, is up next. And what a reception! He is back on the Rod Laver Arena for the first time in six years. "I've missed you too," he tells the crowd. “It's just where I left off.”
Roger Federer Exhibition Match Australian Open opening ceremony Live: It's Agassi next
Roger Federer Exhibition Match Australian Open opening ceremony Live: An eight-time Grand Slam winner, half of which were won in Australia, Andre Agassi, next makes his way out on the court. He will be teaming up with Federer today in the exhibition match. "It is so wonderful to be back in front of all of you," he said. "And if I win tonight, it will be because of my partner."
Roger Federer Exhibition Match Australian Open opening ceremony Live: Up next, Pat Rafter
Roger Federer Exhibition Match Australian Open opening ceremony Live: Two-time US Open champion Pat Rafter is up next to make his way to the Rod Laver Arena. His best showing at the Australian Open came in 2001, when he reached the semis. "Today Hewitt is going to do all the running for me," he said.

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